ROS; 


ati'OA  ;'K»N  OSr  I'AHiS 


GIFT  OF 
Class    of   1900 


si-? 


■^,      i 


SISTER    MARY    PAUL    OF    THE    CROSS. 


Life  of 

f 

SISTER  MARY  PAUL  OF  THE  CROSS 


MEMBER  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  ST.  URSULA 
CONGREGATION  OF  PARIS 


With  an  Introduction  by  the 
REV.  FATHER  XAVIER  SUTTON,  C.  P. 

OF  PASSIONIST  MONASTERY, 
DUNKIRK,  N.  Y. 


3         D      '1     •> 


URSUUNE  MOTTO: 
'Sic  Luceat  Lux  Veslra. 


1917 


The  James  H.  Barry  Co. 
San  Francisco 


NIHIL   OBSTAT: 

REV.    C.    R.    BASCHAB,    Ph.    D., 

Censor  Deputatus. 

IMPRIMATUR: 

MOST    REVEREND   EDWARD   J.    HANNA,    D.    D., 

Archbishop  of   San  Francisco,    Cal. 


c* 


\\ 


0  0 


Mar.  25M9n£' 


TO  THE 

BELOVED  FAMILY  AND  FRIENDS 

OF 

SISTER    MARY    PAUL    OF    THE    CROSS 

THIS    VOLUME    IS 

AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATED. 


861262 


PREFACE. 

In  the  life  of  individuals — no  matter  how  lowly 
their  position  in  society  may  be — there  are  incidents 
that  would  interest  and  edify,  if  they  were  only 
known;  for  there  often  arise  events  that  call  forth 
the  heroic  and   sublime  in  each   one's   life. 

In  the  life  of  a  religious,  therefore,  we  find  in 
richer  and  greater  abundance,  things  to  interest  and 
instruct;  especially  will  this  be  realized  in  the  life  of 
one  whose  duty  it  was  in  the  capacity  of  teacher  not 
only  to  train  the  mind  but  also  to  mold  the  heart  in 
the  love  of  the  highest  and  the  best. 

Sister  Mary  Paul  left  the  impress  of  her  noble 
life  upon  all  who  came  under  her  influence.  Those 
who  knew  her,  do  not  need  a  written  life  to  keep 
alive  the  memory  of  her  beautiful  deeds — she  lives 
in  their  hearts  by  the  love  they  all  bear  to  her. 
Those  who  did  not  have  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  her,  will  find  in  these  pages  lessons  of  encour- 
agement to  do  and  to  dare  noble  and  good  deeds  in 
their  own  sphere  of  life. 
She  has  left: 

Footprints,   that   perhaps   another 
Sailing  o'er  life's   solemn  main, 
A    forlorn    and    shipwrecked    brother, 
Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again. 

REV.  XAVIER  SUTTON,  C.P, 
Dunkirk,  New  York. 

Feast  of  St.  Paul  of  the  Cross, 
April  28,  1917. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Page 

Causes  of  Emigration  of  Irish  People. — Patrick  Mor- 
rissey  and  Family  Are  Among  the  Exiles. — Sketch 
of  Patrick  Morrissey's  Early  Life. — Death  of  Little 
James  Morrissey. — Holy  Innocents  of  Ireland,  Fam- 
ine,   Emigration,    and    Pestilence 13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Mr.  Morrissey  and  Family  Arrive  in  America. — He 
Settles  in  New  York. — He  Finds  Employment  in  the 
Erie  Railroad  Company. — Margaret's  Birth,  Baptism, 
and  Childhood. — Family  Move  to  Sheridan  Center. — 
The  Household  of  Mrs.  Morrissey. — Margaret's  Early 
School  Life. — Her  Love  for  the  Land  of  Her  Fathers. 
— Her  Attention  to  Religious  Duties. — An  Incident 
Showing  Margaret's  Obedience. — Isabella  of  France. — 
First  Communion  Day. — Conversation  Between  Pat- 
rick and  Sarah  Morrissey. — Further  Characteristics 
of  Margaret's  Conduct  Towards  Companions  and 
Teachers.       .    • .17 

CHAPTER  III. 

Death  of  Mr.  Morrissey  and  Grief  of  Family. — Mar- 
garet's Determination  to  Help  Her  Mother. — Letter 
Written  Some  Years  Later,  Bearing  on  Her  Father's 
Death. — Patrick  Morrissey,  Brother  of  Margaret,  Is 
Given  Position  by  the  Erie  Company  and  His  Suc- 
cess.— Her  Devotion  on  Free  Days. — Her  Vocation 
Develops  and  She  Is  Directed  to  the  Ursulines  of 
St.  Martins,  Brown  County,  Ohio. — Parting  With  Her 
Family,  and  Description  of  Her  Trip  to   St  Martins.     28 


CONTENTS   OF  PART   II. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Page 
Margaret  Arrives  at  Convent. — Her  Meeting  With  Su- 
periors and  Novice-Mistress. — First  Weeks  of  Postu- 
lation. — Letter  to  Sisters  in  London,  Ohio. — First 
Letter  to  Her  Home. — Mother  Chatfield's  Tomb. — 
Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Mother  Julia  Chatfield.      .        .    39 

CHAPTER  V. 

A  Short  Sketch  of  St.  Angela  Merici,  Foundress  of 
the  Ursuline  Order. — Margaret's  Spirit  of  Penance. — 
Second  Letter  to  Sisters  in  London. — Impressions  of 
Daily  Life  of  Novices. — Margaret's  Joy  at  Her  Com- 
ing  Reception. — Preparation. — Her   Clothing.         .        .    51 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Margaret's  New  Name. — Her  Visits  to  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament.— Manifestation  of  Conscience. — Studies. — Her 
Views  on  Vows. — Exactness. — Retreats. — Profession. — 
Sent  in  the  Second  Band  of  Sisters  to  the  California 
Foundation. — Description  of  Trip  Westward  to  Santa 
Rosa 58 


CONTENTS    OF  PART  III. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Page 
Rev.  J.  M.  Conway  Obtains  Permission  from  Most 
Reverend  Archbishop  Alemany  for  Sisters  to  Come 
to  Santa  Rosa,  California. — The  St.  Martin's  Com- 
munity Are  Asked  to  Furnish  a  Band  of  Sisters  for 
the  Enterprise. — Purchase  of  Christian  College  (Camp- 
bellite). — Ursulines  Leave  for  the  Scene  of  Their  Fu- 
ture Labors. — They  Are  Met  in  Reno  by  the  Very 
Reverend  Vicar  General,  J.  J.  Prendergast,  D.  D.,  and 
by  General  William  Stark  Rosecrans  and  Mrs.  Ro- 
sencrans. — Letter, — Notice  of  the  Death  of  Sister 
Liguori,  One  of  Santa  Rosa  Pioneer  Ursulines,  Which 
Occurred  in  1916. — Privations,  Incident  on  Founda- 
tions Generally,  and  on  Santa  Rosa's  Particularly. — 
Some  of  the  Sisters  Return  to  Ohio,  While  Seven 
Remain. — Sister  M.  Paul's  Work  and  Success. — Her 
Desire  to  Dedicate  to  God  Whatever  Was  Most 
Excellent. — Her  Manner  of  Correlating  Secular 
and  Religious  Studies. — Foundation  Stones. — Literary 
Work  for  Novices  and  Graduates. — Midnight  Incident.     75 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

Failing  Health  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Conway. — Rev.  J.  M.  Cas- 
sin  Supersedes  as  Pastor. — Mother  Alphonsus'  Death. 
— Friendships. — Elections. — Particular  Virtues  of  Sis- 
ter M.  Paul  at  This  Phase  of  Her  Life.— Her  Desire 
That  Amusing  Changes  Be  Planned  for  the  Young. — 
Her  Appreciation  of  Napa  Valley. — Lines  on  Its 
Beauty. — Coming  Elections  and  Sunday  School  at 
Sebastopol. — Miss  R's.  Character  Sketch  of  Sister  M. 
Paul. — Elections. — Picnics. — Letters. — Mrs.  Morrissey's 
Demise,  and  Clippings  Concerning  Same. — Earthquake 
of   1906.— More   Letters 96 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Page 

Silver  Jubilee  of  Sister  M.  Paul. — Request  of  Her  Fam- 
ily Granted. — Trip  to  Dunkirk,  New  York,  and  Other 
Places  En  Route. — Stay  at  the  Monastery  of  Quebec; 
Mother   St.   Croix   Holmes.— Letters 127 

CHAPTER   X. 

Journey  Homeward  Over  Canadian  Pacific  Road. — 
Poem  on  the  Rockies. — Stroke  of  Apoplexy  Warns 
Sister  M.  Paul  of  Death. — Mother  Angela  Elected 
Superioress. — Final  Retreat  of  Sister  M.  Paul  in  June, 
1912. — The  Manner  in  Which  She  Made  It. — Sister 
M.  Paul  Is  Again  Sent  to  Elmhurst  Ursuline  Acad- 
emy, St.  Helena,  on  the  Opening  of  New  Term. — 
Her  Work  Among  the  Children  There.         .        .       .    140 

CHAPTER   XI. 

Her  Death;  It  Comes  at  the  End  of  a  "Perfect  Day." 
Her  Interment  in  Santa  Rosa. — Poem,  Testimonials, 
and   Newspaper   Obituaries. — Letters 149 


Life  of  Sister  M,  Paul  Morriss?y     , 


CHAPTER  i: 


Before  touching  on  the  life  of  this  holy  Religious, 
our  readers  may  be  interested  in  learning  why  the 
United  States,  not  Ireland,  is  her  debtor. 

Prior  to  the  immigration  of  the  Morrissey  family 
to  New  York,  Ireland  was  in  the  throes  of  conflict- 
ing religious,  political,  and  commercial  agonies,  which 
even  the  genius  of  O'Connell  could  not  heal ;  nor 
could  he  dispel  the  deepening  gloom  which  had  hung 
over  her  for  so  long.  Finally,  the  entire  failure  of  the 
potato  crop  filled  Ireland's  measure  of  woe. 

It  was  then  that  gaunt  Famine  stalked  through 
the  land,  striking  down  first  the  frail  and  sickly,  then 
the  stalwart  and  brave.  In  his  wake  strode  Pesti- 
lence, attacking  in  his  turn  those  who  had  survived 
Famine;  and  so  devastating  and  deadly  was  their  work, 
that  the  sufferers  could  say  that 

"God   Himself  scarce  seemed  there   to   be." 

But,  it  will  be  asked,  was  there  need  that  these  tre- 
mendous sacrifices  be  offered  daily  on  the  altars  of 
Famine  and  Pestilence?  Was  not  the  ubiquitous 
soup-house  open,  with  its  savory  invitation  to  enter, 
recant,  eat?  Verily,  and  this  would  defeat  the  gaunt 
invader;  but  where  would  be  heaven's  martyrs? 
Where  would  be  old  Erin,  in  her  role  of  Apostolic 


14    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Nation,  kindling  to  the  uttermost  ends  of  the  earth 
the  fire  of  Patrjick's  Faith?  And,  as  the  sun  of  Eng- 
land never  !set:s  on  her  temporal  conquests,  so  the 
sun  of  her  victim  sets  not  on  her  spiritual  ones. 

What  a  heritage  this,  for  Sister  M.  Paul,  a  legatee 
of  Irish  martyrs !  How  well  she  used  her  inheri- 
tance, and  at  what  rate  of  interest  she  invested  it, 
let  thousands  who  used  her  holy  income,  answer. 

In  those  days  men  went  down  to  the  sea  in  ships : 
in  those  days  an  Abrahamic  call  was  loudly  heard 
in  the  land;  in  those  days  tiny  hands  were  stretched 
forth  for  bread,  but  received  it  not;  in  those  days, 
America,  like  a  new  Canaan,  was  beckoning  suffer- 
ing Erin  to  her  bosom,  saying: 

"Behold  my  good,  great  land,  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey;  behold  these  forests  and  prairies,  these 
teeming  rivers  and  lakes,  these  mines  and  industries, 
a  land  in  which  religious  intolerance  will  not  rack 
the  bodies  and  souls  of  men." 

Answering  the  call,  went  forth  Erin's  hapless  sons 
and  daughters,  counting  among  their  number  many,  who, 
like  Eleazar,  preferred  death,  if  needs  must  be,  to 
the  eating  of  illegal  meats;  who  preferred  to  brave 
the  pestilential  ship  to  the  alternative  of  leaving  to 
the  young  an  example  of  apostacy.  Were  not  an- 
gels' pens  kept  busy  then? — recording  the  deeds  of 
heroes  in  heaven's  chancery  to  be  kept  until  the 
doom. 

Reaching  the  great  West,  the  patience  of  the  exiles 
in   long-suffering   was   so   rewarded   that   sickness   and 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross     15 

want  were  soon  forgotten  in  radiant  health  and 
abundance. 

To  what  extent  Patrick  Morrissey  and  his  young 
family  were  affected  by  the  prevailing  conditions  of  his 
sad  country,  we  cannot  accurately  tell;  suffice  it  to  say, 
that  the  March  of  1849,  found  him  with  his  wife  and 
children  aboard — not  a  fine  modern  scorner  of  winds, 
equipped  with  traveling  comforts — but  one  of  the  slow 
wind-driven  sailing  vessels,  ancestors  to  our  astonishing 
progeny  of  steam  and  electricity. 

The  history  of  Patrick  Morrissey  which  has  reached 
us,  is  scant.  In  1846,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Nu- 
gent of  his  native  Clare :  and  his  was  one  of  those 
marriages,  of  which  it  may  be  truly  said  that  God 
had  joined  them,  as  the  subsequent  history  of  their 
peaceful  union  endorses ;  for  come  weal  or  come  woe, 
Patrick  and  his  brave  wife  were  ever  the  same  God- 
fearing couple.  Sarah  was,  as  the  good  wife  should 
be  in  the  order  of  nature  and  grace,  a  complement 
rounding  out  the  character  of  her  husband.  When 
this  sorely-tried  family  embarked  for  the  New  World, 
they  did  not  leave  all  crosses  behind,  for  ship-fever 
broke  out  among  the  passengers,  and  one  of  the  first 
of  its  victims  to  be  consigned  to  a  watery  grave,  was 
the  darling  of  his  parents,  little  James. 

We  need  not  dwell  upon  the  harrowing  scene,  nor 
the  anguish  of  the  bereaved  parents.  Judea  is  not  the 
only  place  where  evil  law-givers  have  triumphed ;  neither 
is  it  the  only  country  blessed  by  Holy  Innocents;  nor  is 
Herod  the  only  executioner  of  hapless  infancy.  Little 
James  Morrissey,  with  many  of  Ireland's  Holy  Inno- 


i6    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

cents,  sleeps  beneath  the  waters  that  divide  the  Old 
World  from  the  New :  and  numbers  testify  to  what 
extent  Ireland  has  sent  to  God  her  children:  nor  does 
the  Atlantic,  in  swa^ang  rhythm,  cease  the  lullaby  to 
their  eternal  sleep. 

When  Famine  threatened,  England  might  have  said: 
"Be  not  afraid,  O  Erin,  my  sister,  though  your  potato 
crop  is  about  to  fail,  you  have  other  crops  as  rich  and 
nourishing :  you  have  fine  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep ; 
you  have  hogs  and  poultry.  Eat  and  be  strong.  You 
want  not  alms.  Open  up  your  own  domestic  parliament, 
open  your  ports  to  foreign  supphes ;  stop  floating  off  on 
every  tide  from  your  thirteen  seaports,  your  native 
produce." 

But  because  no  blessed  Church  of  God  guided  the 
existing  Government,  the  quickly  made  grave  closed 
over  the  horrible  sight  of  three  million  of  Ireland's 
children,  dead  by  starvation  or  by  typhus  induced  by  it, 
and  when  the  fearful  "bad  times"  were  fully,  spent,  the 
recording  angel  had  laid  at  the  foot  of  God's  throne 
his  statistics;  namely,  four  miUion  of  holy  ones  lost  to 
Erin  by  starvation  and  emigration. 

Monuments  mark  spots  in  Canada  and  elsewhere, 
beneath  which  lie  the  hapless  victims  of  fever-reeking 
ships,  who  died  by  hundreds,  unable  to  proceed  further 
from  hunger  and  disease. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Without  further  mishap,  Mr.  Morrissey  and  family 
reached  Quebec,  where  after  visiting  relatives  and 
friends,  they  set  out  for  New  York,  which  seemed 
more  to  their  liking  than  did  the  Queen's  Dominion. 

Great  Valley  in  Cattaraugus  county  offered  some  in- 
ducements to  the  exile,  and  it  was  here  that  Mr.  Mor- 
rissey and  family  settled.  Brought  to  the  notice  of 
certain  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company,  Mr.  Morrissey 
became  associated  with  them  and  he  soon  gained  their 
confidence  and  respect.  His  ability  and  integrity  were 
of  much  use  to  the  company,  who  were  then  construct- 
ing the  Erie  Railroad  from  New  York  to  Dunkirk,  and 
the  Morrisseys,  who  for  so  long  a  time  had  been  dwell- 
ing on  the  mountain  of  self-denial,  now  began  to  dig 
out  the  gold  of  happiness  and  prosperity.  Not  only  to 
the  company  that  employed  him,  did  Mr.  Morrissey  give 
satisfaction  but  also  to  those  men  over  whom  he  was 
placed.  To  the  latter  he  was  an  example  of  sobriety, 
industry,  and  peace;  for  the  good  ruler  of  a  family  is 
ever  the  good  ruler  of  those  who  elsewhere  come  under 
his  dominion.  No  wonder  that  members  of  the  Morrissey 
family  looked  with  straining  eyes  to  the  evening  return 
of  such  a  father,  and  he  with  no  less  pleasurable  antici- 
pations sought  them. 

Thus  was  Divine  Foresight  shaping  things  for  the 
training  and  development  of  a  soul  over  whom  the 
plastic  fingers  of  the  Creator  soon  should  wander,  that 


i8    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

it  might  come  forth  therefrom  blessed  and  finished  to 
ornament  in  due  season  His  Church. 

In  February,  1856,  Mrs.  Morrissey's  fifth  and  most 
favored  child  was  born.  The  hardihood  and  develop- 
ment of  the  mother  had  not  been  decreased  by  the  icy, 
cold,  and  bitter  squalls  of  old  Erie.  The  Morrissey 
endurance  was  of  that  strong,  wiry  constituency  peculiar 
to  the  mighty  Celts  who  were  almost  in  the  van  of 
Europe's  barbaric  invaders. 

Great  was  the  joy  of  husband  and  family  when  the 
waters  of  Baptism  cleansed  their  little  treasure  from 
original  sin.  This  Sacrament  was  administered  on  the 
fourth  day  after  birth,  for  the  pious  parents  would 
brook  no  unnecessary  delay  in  making  their  child  one 
of  God's  loveliest  and  purest. 

Margaret  Catherine  was  the  sweet  name  the  little 
one  received  and  let  us  say  that  its  significance  lost 
nothing  of  its  beauty  in  the  life  of  her,  who  was  so 
pure  a  pearl. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Morrissey's  business  made  it  neces- 
sary to  live  at  Sheridan  Center;  and  the  thought  of 
returning  to  his  own  land  and  retaking  the  fine  home  of 
his  fathers  had  to  be  abandoned;  for  his  afifairs  were 
prospering  and  the  building  of  a  comfortable  New 
York  home  near  his  work  must  needs  leave  the  home 
in  Clare  out  of  the  question. 

In  the  course  of  time,  other  children  came,  among 
whom  was  James,  to  make  good  the  loss  of  him  who 
sleeps  beneath  the  Atlantic  waves;  and  Lucy,  named 
after  the  sweet  patroness  of  the  blind,  a  favorite  saint 
with  Margaret  and  Mrs.  Morrissey.    In  this  family  was 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross     19 

fulfilled  the  consoling  description  of  the  Psalmist,  who 
likens  the  good  wife  to  a  fruitful  vine,  and  the  children 
to  young  olive  plants  around  the  table  of  the  God- 
fearing parents.  These  days  seem  to  be  the  happiest 
in  Sarah  Morrissey's  married  life,  and  well  did  she 
thank  God,  and  prayerfully  did  she  watch  over  the 
children  whom  He  had  sent  for  her  consolation. 

To  the  casual  observer,  there  was  nothing  extra- 
ordinary about  the  manner  in  which  the  household 
affairs  of  the  Morrissey  family  were  conducted;  yet 
any  one  striving  after  perfection  and  knowing  the 
difficulties  thereof,  would  find  an  extraordinary  holi- 
ness in  the  day's  routine.  With  the  regularity  and 
exactness,  Mrs.  Morrissey  performed  her  own  duties  and 
required  the  same  from  her  children.  The  morning  and 
evening  prayers,  the  grace  at  meals,  and  the  daily  rosary 
were  duties  from  which  no  one,  without  a  grave  excuse, 
was  dispensed.  The  Sunday  Mass,  Confession  and  Holy 
Communion  lost  none  of  their  unction  by  the  regularity 
and  repetition  with  which  the  Mother  insisted  on  their 
fulfilment. 

No  wonder  the  little  Margaret  in  after  years  was 
an  example  to  her  religious  Sisters  of  those  virtues 
which  had  been  so  well  instilled  into  her  who,  in  riper 
years,  never  suspected  that  she  was  doing  aught  above 
her  plain  duty;  nor  could  she  think  the  shirking  of 
exactitude  anything  short  of  sin. 

How  often  in  recreation  hour,  would  Sister  M.  Paul 
speak  of  her  mother's  fervor  at  the  short  and  simple 
grace  and  rosary;  or  of  the  care  and  industry  of  her 
"dear,     sweet    sister    Mary"     regarding    the    younger 


20    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

children.  To  them,  Mary  was,  as  they  called  her,  their 
second  mother  and  how  tenderly  she  filled  her  self- 
imposed  office  was  shown  by  the  loving  trust  they  had 
in  her  judgment. 

Evenings  in  the  Morrissey  home,  were  spent  either 
in  preparing  lessons  for  the  children  or  in  discussions 
among  their  circle  of  friends,  calculated  to  rouse  the 
interest  of  Margaret  in  matters  political  and  historical. 
O'Connell's  skill  for  agitating  rather  than  for  fighting 
made  him  champion  for  all  time  in  the  mind  of  our 
little  Margaret.  Thus  a  love  for  Ireland's  history  was 
fostered  around  the  Morrissey  hearth;  and  Margaret, 
in  common  with  her  brothers  and  sisters,  was  proud  of 
her  country,  its  traditions,  its  glorious  title  of  "Insula 
Doctorum  et  Sanctorum" ;  and  above  all  she  gloried  in 
the  Faith  of  her  fathers. 

Margaret's  progress  at  school  was  remarkable, 
especially  in  mathematics,  a  subject  in  which  she 
afterwards  excelled.  Convent  schools,  in  those  days, 
were  rare  blessings  and  generally  located  in  large 
cities;  so  that  our  ambitious  little  Margaret,  to- 
gether with  her  parents,  was  obliged  to  be  content 
with  what  the  public  school  offers;  and  to  an  up- 
right child  like  Margaret,  home  sympathy  with  the 
religious  instruction  she  received,  somewhat  made 
up  for  better  conditions.  "Be  noble  and  the  nobil- 
ity in  others  will  rise  to  meet  your  own,"  was  a 
command  in  the  Morrissey  household;  and  that  the 
nobility  in  others  did  meet  theirs,  was  evident,  for 
neighborly  intercourse  never  descended  to  the 
ignoble. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    21 

The  deprivation  of  the  religious  school  for  his 
children  made  Mr.  Morrissey  doubly  careful  to  instill 
into  his  family  great  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  to  the  Guardian  Angels  and  Saints  of  God, 
and  in  pious  practices  he  was  always  leader. 

When  deep  snow  and  ice  covered  the  five  long 
miles  that  stretched  between  his  home  and  the 
Church,  he  excused  neither  himself  nor  family  from 
attending  Holy  Mass  on  Sundays  and  holy  days  of 
obligation.  Holding  the  little  hands  of  his  children 
in  his  brave  ones,  he  did  not  halt  till  he  led  them 
up  near  to  the  "Holy  of  Holies." 

The  journey  homeward  he  beguiled  with  a  re- 
capitulation and  explanation  of  the  sermon,  and 
thus  they  became  so  well  instructed  that  when 
little  Margaret  presented  herself  for  remote  prep- 
aration for  First  Communion  and  Confirmation,  the 
presiding  priest,  Reverend  Hugh  Barr,  C.  P.,  found 
a  soil  thoroughly  prepared  for  the  growth  in  holi- 
ness which  was  to  follow. 

At  this  tender  age  of  ten,  an  incident  occurred 
which  shows  Margaret's  obedience  and  determination. 

Some  trouble  arose  between  a  pupil  and  the 
teacher.  The  parents  of  the  former  took  the  case 
to  court.  Witnesses  from  the  school  were  sum- 
moned, among  them  Margaret.  Before  taking  her 
testimony,  the  officer,  of  the  law  told  her  to  take  an 
oath  on  the  Bible.  Margaret  refused,  whereupon 
he  explained  that  the  oath  was  necessary.  She 
replied  that  she  would  tell  the  truth,  but  would 
not  take  the  oath. 


22    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

"May   I   ask   your  reason?"   said   the   officer. 

"Because  my  father  says  I  am  too  young  to 
understand  what  an  oath  is/'  said  the  resolute  little 
witness. 

"Are  you  a  Catholic?"  said  the  officer. 

"Yes,   sir,"  was  the   simple  reply. 

"Well,  then,  you  may  be  excused  from  taking 
the  oath,"  said  he,  a  little  amused  at  the  intrepid 
youngster. 

Margaret's  devotion  for  her  first  reception  of  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  the  Sacrament  of  Love,  culminated 
in  a  perfect  holocaust  of  self.  "To  be  yours,  O 
dear  sweet  Lord !"  was  her  heart-song  all  that  day, 
as  her  soul  floated  on  an  ocean  of  love;  and  in  the 
evening,  her  parents  heard  her  words  of  enthusiasm 
and  listened  to  her  heart-song. 

When  the  tiny  Isabella  of  France,  clothed  in 
robes  of  State,  stood  before  the  last  of  England's 
Plantagenets,  then  in  the  meridian  of  his  splendid 
manhood,  he  asked  the  princess,  "Are  you  willing, 
my  child,  to  become  queen  of  England  and  to  marry 
Richard  Plantagenet?" 

"I  shall  be  very  happy  to  become  queen  of  Eng- 
land and  to  marry  Richard,"  said  the  ten-year-old 
aspirant  to  the  English  throne. 

The  court  smiled  at  her  precociousness,  but 
Richard  took  the  child  and  pressed  her  to  his  royal 
heart  in  which  he  enshrined  her  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  while  the  court,  assembled  to  witness 
the  betrothal,  wondered  at  the  serenity  of  the  queen 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    23 

and  praised  the  childish  grace  and  dignity  which 
added  luster  to  infantile  royalty. 

How  often  does  the  court  of  heaven  assemble  to 
witness  its  King  take  the  hand  of  a  small  aspirant 
to  His  Heart,  to  His  Throne  and  to  His  blessed 
work:  and  how  often  does  it  wonder  at  the  grace 
and  dignity  of  the  aspiring  bride,  all  glowing  with 
virginal  love :  all  wishing  to  be  one  of  heaven's 
queens :  all  eager  to  be  enshrined  forever  in  the 
heart  of  Christ !  How  He  loves  to  walk  among  His 
lilies,  culling  them  when  He  cannot  resist  their 
beauty!  Ah  me!  He  delights  in  prolific  gardens, 
where  He  finds  clusters  of  rarest  qualities,  and  sweet, 
small  ones  to  companion  the  stronger  and  greater. 

The  Day  of  First  Holy  Communion  is  often  the 
test  as  to  how  parents  have  sown  virtue's  seed  in 
the  wondrous  soil  given  them  by  the  Maker  of  all 
things:  for  the  early  season  shows  forth  the  spring- 
ing beauty,  or  the  lurking  deformity  of  human 
plants,  and  we  can  discern  how  the  various  weeds, 
trimmed  and  beautified  by  the  cultivator,  resemble 
the  ''gentle  race  of  flowers";  ordinary  flowers  be- 
come rare  exotics;  and  rare  exotics  superb  growths, 
exhibiting  all  the  possibilities  of  the  species.  See 
the  cultivator,  Monica,  at  work;  she  does  not  re- 
linquish the  pruning  shears  of  admonition,  nor  the 
sprinkler  of  prayer  till  she  sees  her  obdurate  weed 
attain  all  floral  prerogatives.  See  also  the  exotics. 
Saints  Ursula  and  Agnes:  did  they  not  acquire  their 
full  growth,  their  complete  development,  as  exotics? 

The  Morrisseys  were  among  the  best  sowers  of 


24    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

virtues'  seeds,  and  their  little  Margaret's  First 
Communion  Day  demonstrated  how  they  had 
worked  up  the  rich  and  yielding  soil  of  her  soul. 
There  was  in  her  nature  a  characteristic  which 
dominated  her  all  through  her  life;  namely,  she 
kept  nothing  on  her  mind,  whether  of  joy  or  sorrow, 
that  she  did  not  communicate  to  those  in  authority, 
and  once  communicated  she  became  tranquil. 

Hence  before  retiring  on  that  eventful  night, 
when  heaven  seemed  to  have  bowed  down  to  her 
little  corner  of  earth  and  made  her  exuberant  with 
those  delights  which  only  God's  chosen  ones  know, 
she  sat  between  father  and  mother  and  acquainted 
them  with  what  our  Lord  had  whispered  to  her  in 
the  morning.  Both  listened  in  reverent  silence, 
for  the  God-fearing  parents  felt  highly  favored  that 
a  child  of  theirs  should  be  called  into  the  "hollow 
places  of  the  rocks"  where,  undisturbed,  she  would 
hold  converse  with  the  Lover  of  her  soul.  Too  full 
for  words,  her  father  stroked  her  brown  hair  and 
her  mother's  tearful  eyes  bespoke  her  emotion.  See- 
ing which,  Margaret  fondly  kissed  her  parents  and 
bade  them,  "good-night,"  feeling  rather  than  hearing 
their  words  of  approbation  and  the  sweet  blessings 
that  fell  from  their  loving  eyes  and  kindly  voices. 

We  can  imagine  her  entreaties  that  night  when 
she  was  alone  with  her  angel  guardian,  for  she  was 
ever  in  the  habit  of  asking  him  to  protect  her,  to 
rule  her,  and  to  guide  her:  but  on  this  blessed  occa- 
sion, she  felt  the  almost  sensible  assurance  that  he 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    25 

would  not  quit  his  post  till  he  had  conducted  her 
safe  to  her  heavenly  country. 

But  Margaret's  parents  corresponding  to  grace, 
like  unto  the  blessed  Mother  of  God,  kept  what  their 
child  had  told  them,  pondering  over  it  in  their 
hearts. 

Patrick  broke  the  silence  by  remarking,  "Well, 
Sarah,  St.  Paul  says:  'Both  he  that  giveth  his 
virgin  in  marriage  doth  well :  and  he  that  giveth  her 
not,  doth  better.'" 

"These  are  consoling  words,"  said  Sarah,  "and 
proud  shall  I  be,  if  our  Lord  calls  our  dear  Mar- 
garet to  the  state  of  virginity";  whereupon  Patrick 
took  from  the  shelf  an  old  volume  and  turning  over 
the  pages,  he  said:  "We  have  not  much  reason  to 
like  the  opinion  of  the  cruel  Saxon :  but  Saxon 
saints  are  different,  and  this  opinion  of  St.  Aedhelm 
concerning  what  Margaret  has  just  said,  is  as  fine 
as  if  one  of  our  own  Irish  saints  had  written  it." 

"Read  it,"  replied  his  wife,  eagerly,  and  Patrick 
read : 

"Virginity  is  gold,  celibacy  is  silver,  matrimony 
is  brass.  Virginity  is  riches,  celibacy  is  freedom, 
matrimony  is  captivity.  Virginity  is  peace,  celibacy 
is  competency,  matrimony  is  poverty.  Virginity  is 
a  sun,  celibacy  is  a  lamp,  matrimony  is  a  servant." 

"Had  I  been  well  read  in  these  beautiful  things," 
said  Sarah,  "I  think  I  would  have  done  what  Mar- 
garet thinks   of  doing." 

"And  should  you  not  think  yourself  honored 
overmuch    by    being    the    mother    of    one    of    those 


26    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

consecrated  virgins,  whom  St.  Paul  extols  in  the 
passage  which  I  have  just  read?"  said  her  husband, 
'f o  this  Sarah  assented,  and  it  was  with  full  hearts 
that  both  knelt  before  God  to  pour  out  the  emotions 
of  love  and  gratitude  which  the  progress  of  that 
sweet  day  had  heaped  up  in  their  hearts. 

About  this  time  the  Passionist  Fathers  of  Dun- 
kirk arranged  to  have  Mass  celebrated  in  Sheridan 
Center  on  the  fifth  Sunday  of  the  months  having 
five  Sundays :  Mr.  Morrissey's  home  was  blessed  by 
having  the  great  Mysteries  celebrated  therein.  We 
can  imagine  the  tender  love  of  his  children  in  dec- 
orating the  altar  and  arranging  everything  connected 
with  the  Divine  Service.  Reverend  Hugh  Barr,  C.  P., 
generally  said  Mass  on  these  occasions.  His  atten- 
tion was  centered  upon  little  Margaret  and  her 
brother  J  .  .  .,  for  he  recognized  in  them  those 
qualities  which  give  promise  of  vocations  to  the 
religious  life.  Margaret  was  directed  by  him,  and 
through  him  her  attention  was  turned  to  the  Pas- 
sionist nuns,  whose  novitiate  is  in  Italy. 

St.  Teresa  strongly  recommended  prudent, 
learned,  and  far-seeing  directors  to  guide  souls  to 
the  heights,  and  had  Mr.  Morrissey's  children  con- 
tinued to  be  directed  by  such,  we  do  not  hesitate 
to  say  that  there  were  four  vocations  among  them ; 
but  Margaret's  vocation  being  the  strongest,  she 
adhered  most  tenaciously  to  the  inner  call,  and  her 
subsequent  action  realized,  her  fondest  hopes.  Both 
school  and  home  duties  received  a  new  impulse, 
and  her  attention  led   her  to  the   first  place   in   her 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    27 

class  and  to  the  highest  respect  in  the  Morrissey 
household.  Perfection  is  the  result  of  attention  to 
small  things,  and  toward  perfection  she  continu- 
ally aimed.  To  her  teachers  she  showed  the  most 
respectful  deference,  which,  in  later  years,  she  trans- 
ferred with  more  loving  and  reverential  intensity  to 
her  Superiors.  To  her  school-companions  she  was 
ever  the  kind,  considerate  friend,  who  put  them 
forward,  keeping  herself  in  the  background;  yet 
they  found  her  inexorable  regarding  faults  to  which 
children  are  unfortunately  heirs.  To  use  school- 
girl phraseology,  they  found  her  a  fierce  teller  of 
truth,  a  fierce  defender  of  justice;  and  let  us  add, 
that  the  exercise  of  those  virtues  sometimes  caused 
fierce,  childish  troubles.  Her  methods  in  matters 
of  justice  were  all  through  life  most  direct  and  un- 
compromising. She  soared  in  a  region  of  truth  so 
high,  that  quibble,  prevarication,  or  even  that  neces- 
sary quality  which  we  call  tact,  could  not  follow. 
Tact  was  a  quality  that  she  labored  in  vain  to 
weave  into  the  warp  and  woof  of  her  dealings  with 
humanity,  and  fortunate  was  it  for  her  that  her  life 
work  needed  little  of  the  tactician's  skill.  It  was 
argued  that  the  cultivation  of  tact  would  make  her 
more  useful  to  her  neighbor,  but  she  had  a  way  of 
being  useful  without  this  kind  of  human  prudence, 
for  true  words  (being  the  children  of  true  thought 
and  true  thought  the  offspring  of  a  noble  life)  gave 
method    and   vigor   to    Margaret's   procedure. 


CHAPTER  III. 

In  this  work-a-day  world  of  ours,  in  its  apparent 
greed  for  riches  and  honors  and  in  its  disregard  for 
the  Ten  Commandments,  we  are  inclined  to  think 
that  few  of  its  votaries  are  living  in  the  fear  and 
love  of  God. 

Not  so,  for  if  we  look  but  closely,  we  shall  dis- 
cover many  peaceful  Nazareths  in  which  live  holy 
families  with  Josephs  and  Marys,  close  imitators  of 
their  great  prototypes.  Under  their  rule  dwell 
children  patterned  after  the  Child  Jesus,  and  so 
holy  and  smooth  passes  their  existence  that  they  do 
not  realize  the  dread  proximity  of  Calvary  and  that 
all  who  ascend  its  heights  are  cross-laden.  A  Naza- 
reth, in  truth,  had  been  the  Morrissey  home:  but 
swift  and  sudden  were  its  inmates  transported  there- 
from and  placed  on  Calvary's  summit. 

Mr.  Morrissey,  as  we  have  stated,  had  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company,  and  to 
it  he  had  given  five  years  of  profitable  service.  In 
return  he  had  enjoyed  the  highest  confidence  and 
appreciation  of  the  Company.  But  grim  destiny 
was  abroad.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  October, 
1870,  his  train  was  steaming  towards  Dunkirk:  halt- 
ing at  a  small  station  outside  the  City,  Mr.  Mor- 
rissey saw  a  friend  of  his  on  the  platform.  He 
stepped  from  his  coach  to  greet  this  friend,  and 
being  interested  in  the  conversation  that  ensued, 
he   did  not   observe  that  his   train  was  moving  on. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    29 

With  his  wonted  agility,  he  attempted  to  board  the 
train;  but  his  foot  having  slipped,  he  struck  his 
head  against  the  coach,  and  losing  all  consciousness, 
fell  to  the  ground. 

In  a  few  moments  all  was  over,  and  the  in- 
scrutible  decree  of  God  prevailed.  Mrs.  Morrissey, 
little  dreaming  of  catastrophe,  together  with  her 
children,  was  preparing  for  his  glad  return,  which 
indeed  was  prompt,  but,  alas !  not  glad. 

Perhaps  nothing  shows  forth  more  the  beauty  of 
Christianity  than  the  manner  in  which  its  followers 
bear    overwhelming   grief. 

When  the  first  paroxysm  of  pain  was  over,  Mrs. 
Morrissey  summoned  her  fortitude,  and  taking  her 
eight  wailing  children,  she  knelt  with  them  before 
a  picture  of  our  Mother  of  Sorrows  and  there  she 
offered  her  own  grief  with  theirs.  Long  and  earnest- 
ly did  she  mingle  sobs  and  prayers,  whilst  sym- 
pathetic friends  cared  for  the  dead.  From  the 
kneeling  group  up  rose  Margaret,  the  most  grief- 
stricken  of  all,  and  dashing  away  her  tears,  she 
clasped  her  mother  about  the  neck  and  exclaimed: 
"Mother,  don't  cry.  I'll  work  for  you  instead  of 
father."  How  this  determination  was  effected,  we 
learn  from  her  subsequent  work  both  as  student 
and  teacher.  The  death  of  her  beloved  father  was 
a  sorrow,  the  poignancy  of  which  remained  with 
her  till  death  as  the  following  letter  written  a  month 
before  her  demise   will   show: 


30    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

''Feast  of  St.  Teresa,  October  15,  1912. 
"My  own  beloved  ones : 

"It  seems  a  long  time  since  I  have  heard  from 
home,  but  I  hope  you  are  well.  Time  passes  so 
quickly  that  soon  another  Christmas  will  be  present 
and  then  I  will  get  my  loving  Christmas  letters 
from  all.  Soon  also  that  eternal  Christmas  will 
dawn  when  we  will  be  reunited  with  our  devoted  par- 
ents. Just  two  weeks  from  today  will  be  October 
twenty-ninth.  How    well    I    remember    October 

twenty-ninth,  1870!  Our  noble  father,  called  so 
suddenly  from  his  tender,  saintly  wife  and  his  idol- 
ized children.     Do  you  remember  our  brave  brother 

P ? — how  at  once  he  took  father's  place  and 

thus  we  remained  in  our  home  in  Sheridan  Center, 
a  paradise  on  earth  with  our  dear  saintly  mother, 
its  queen.  Just  think,  forty-two  years  have  flown  so 
rapidly,  each  one  of  which  has  been  marked  with 
God's  special  blessings  on  my  loved  ones.  Courage, 
my  dear  people.  Continue  in  your  noble  life  of 
faith  and  of  hope  and  of  love  of  God  till  you  hear 
the  Master's  call,  'Come  and  be  crowned.' 

"No  doubt,  you  are  anxious  to  know  how  I  have 
been  since  I  got  that  stroke  four  years  ago.  I 
have  enjoyed  good  health.  Of  course,  the  attack 
weakened  my  system  so  that  I  cannot  use  my  head 
in  constant  mental  work,  without  great  fatigue, 
hence  I  do  not  accomplish  as  much  teaching  as 
formerly  and   I   rest   when   tired. 

"The  shock  left  me  without  any  painful  effects, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  so  I  am  'up  and  doing' — 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    31 

no  organic  trouble  whatever,  thank  God !  I  owe  it 
to  the  tenderness  of  our  Heavenly  Father  and  to 
the  prayers  of  dear  Reverend  Father  C.  and  the 
dear  members  of  the  community,  our  esteemed 
Mother  A.  leading. 

"You,  my  dear  people,  have  perhaps  the  most 
share  in  my  full  recovery.  May  God  love  and  bless 
you  all !  Pardon  my  egotism,  but  I  know  you  are 
anxious  to  learn  just  how  I  am. 

"The  mountain  air  in  St.  Helena  is  most  salubri- 
ous. We  have  a  large  fig  tree  which  yields  so 
abundantly  of  delicious  figs  that  I  wish  I  could 
send  you  some.  We  have  them  morning,  noon  and 
night — if  we  want  them.  Last  evening  we  sent 
a  box  of  them  to  Santa  Rosa  for  dear  Sister  T.'s 
feast-day.  She  is  one  of  the  Sisters  who  was 
anointed  the  same  week  that  I  was,  four  years  ago. 
Life  is  a  road,  long  for  some,  short  for  others,  but 
for  all,  no  return.  Let  us  love  one  another.  Be 
kind  and  tender  in  all  your  dealings  with  your  own. 
The  Morrissey  family  of  Sheridan  Center  owes  its 
fine  history  of  Faith  and  Hope  and  Love  to  the 
beautiful  Rosary  recited  every  night  for  so  many 
years.  Continue  to  say  it  daily  and  have  K.'s 
darlings  say  it  together.  It  will  work  wonders  in 
this  age  of  indifference  to  our  holy  Faith." 

We  draw  a  veil  over  the  family  while  they  were 
dwellers  on  Calvary.  Mrs.  Morrissey  had  drained 
her  chalice  to  the  dregs  and  her  little  ones  drank  it 
according  to  their  capacity,  but  Margaret's  great 
affection    and    tenderness    toward    those    she    loved. 


32    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

caused  her  to  receive  a  double  portion  of  the  bitter 
draught  and  to  feel  most  keenly  of  all  the  sense 
of  loss. 

When  the  fearful  shock  had  somewhat  subsided, 
both  she  and  the  family  with  extraordinary  courage 
faced  again  the  same  problem  which  had  confronted 
their  father  on  his  arrival  in  the  United  States, 
and  here  again  was  God  directing  their  destines  for 
His  all-wise  ends. 

With  great  generosity  came  the  officials  of  the 
road,  who  placed  young  Patrick  Morrissey,  Jr., 
though  a  mere  boy,  in  a  section  of  the  road  that 
gave  lucrative  employment  to  the  youthful  bread- 
winner. Possessing  integrity  and  honor  in  his  deal- 
ings, charity  and  kindness  towards  all,  we  do  not 
wonder  that  young  Patrick  not  only  reached  his 
father's  position  but  also  went  ahead  so  amazingly 
that  he  became  to  the  family  a  second  father. 

Margaret,  true  to  her  word  that  she  would  work 
for  her  mother,  redoubled  her  energies  and  began  to 
teach  before  she  had  attained  the  age  of  sixteen, 
a  phenomenal  age  for  one  who  must  rule  the  noisy 
mansion,  called  the  school-house.  Nor  did  the  bod- 
ing tremblers  ever  learn  to  trace  the  day's  disaster 
on  Margaret's  face;  for  hers  was  serene  and  young 
even  as  their  own;  and  if  perchance  these  little 
students  did  find  her 

"Severe  in  aught,   well  they  knew  that 
The  love    [she]   bore   to  learning  was   the   fault." 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    33 

Her  success  as  a  teacher  was  due,  not  only  to 
ability  and  daily  preparation  but  also  to  her 
diligence  in  studying  pedagogical  methods  of  the 
progressive  kind.  Her  fervor  at  daily  Mass  and 
her  mile's  walk  thereto  and  her  attention  to  patrons 
of  her  school,  all  helped  to  make  her  work  speed 
along  on  prosperous  lines. 

Those  engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching  dis- 
cover sooner  or  later  that  no  forming  or  informing 
will  ever  make  two  persons  alike  in  thought  or 
power.  Among  all  men  "their  differences  are  eternal 
and  irreconcilable  even  among  those  born  under  the 
same  circumstances."  So,  too,  Margaret's  intel- 
ligence, wandering  over  her  young  charges,  became 
convinced  that  some  were  "agates  and  needed  polish- 
ing; some  were  oaks,  and  needed  seasoning;  some 
were  slate  and  needed  rending;  others  clay  and 
needed  molding."  She  also  felt  that  each  type  had 
its  proper  place  in  God's  fair  world,  the  finding 
of  which  place  would  make  their  shining  beautiful, 
but  with  a  beauty  consistent  with  their  nature. 
God,  delighting  in  variety  and  never  tiring  His 
creatures  with  monotony,  had  given  her  these,  His 
children,  to  study,  not  only  that  she  might  help 
them  to  satisfy  their  natural  cravings  for  mere 
knowledge,  which  craving  is  a  concomitant  of  educa- 
tion, but,  also,  what  is  far  more  important,  that  she 
might  direct  the  purposes  of  life  which  would  be 
theirs  to  fulfill  in  order  to  be  crowned  with  the 
blessings  which  must  needs  follow.  How  ardently 
did   she   long  to  have   a  school  in   which   she   could 


34    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

freely  exercise  her  love  for  God  towards  His  little 
ones,  and  how  she  prayed  Him  to  hasten  the  time 
when  her  dear  mother  could  dispense  with  her 
assistance ! 

Saturdays  she  spent  at  home,  and  her  little 
brother  James  accompanied  her  to  Mass.  The  boy- 
nature  in  him  could  not  account  for  his  sister's  pro- 
longed stay  after  Mass,  nor  could  her  instruction  on 
the  holy  mysteries,  or  the  utility  of  prayer  reconcile 
him  to  penitential  aches  about  the  knees  and  to 
lengthened  inactivity  during  the  early  Saturday 
hours  so  dear  to  the  school-boy. 

Reverend  Father  Barr,  C.  P.,  as  we  have  stated 
above,  showed  a  lively  interest  in  Margaret's  voca- 
tion and  still  urged  her  to  go  to  Italy  to  the  novi- 
tiate of  the  Passionist  nuns.  Soon  after  this,  how- 
ever, the  Ursulines  of  Brown  County,  Ohio,  were 
brought  under  Margaret's  notice,  and  after  sundry 
conferences  on  the  exact  place  and  Order  to  which 
God  seemed  to  be  calling  her,  she  finally  decided 
with  the  aid  of  her  director  to  remain  in  America 
and  to  give  her  life  to  God  among  that  portion  of 
His  children  nestled  in  one  of  the  vast  forests  of 
Ohio. 

Reverend  Father  Hugh  Barr  and  others  of  the 
Passionist  monastery  wrote  eulogistic  letters  con- 
cerning the  young  candidate,  so  that  she  was 
promptly  and  enthusiastically  received  by  the  Ursu- 
lines of  St.  Martin's,  Brown  County,  Ohio.  Her 
assistance  at  home  being  no  longer  needed,  she,  with 
characteristic  speed,  commenced  preparations  to  enter  on 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    35 

the  religious  life,  and  having,  at  the  end  of  the  term, 
resigned  her  position  in  the  public  school,  she  applied 
herself  to  prayer  and  to  the  study  of  the  spirit  of  St. 
Angela. 

The  time  of  departure  was  approaching,  and  as 
the  days  were  hastening  towards  the  one  upon 
which  she  must  bid  adieu  to  all  that  she  loved  on 
earth,  a  great  wave  of  desolation  swept  over  her 
soul,  and  so  strongly  did  it  threaten  to  overwhelm 
her  that  even  prayer  did  not  bring  her  the  strength 
to  break  down  the  barrier  between  nature  and  grace. 
In  this  extremity  she  conferred  with  her  experienced 
Father  Barr,  who  questioned,  "Does  your  mother's 
heart  weigh  more  than  your  Lord's?"  The  reply 
in  her  heart  made  her  decide  at  once  to  sever  all 
the  ties  that  bound  her  to  her  mother  and  her 
cherished  family.  She  immediately  began  her  per- 
sonal preparation  to  go  to  Brown  County.  Her 
intentions  she  made  known  only  to  her  Confessor 
and  to  her  family.  On  the  morning  of  her  depart- 
ure, she  was  so  joyful  that  she  seemed  to  forget 
that  this  time  she  would  not  return  at  the  end  of 
the  week.  She  started  for  the  train  without  saying 
"Good-by" :  then  she  reflected  and  returned.  Her 
mother  and  brother  James  were  to  accompany  her  as 
far  as  Dunkirk,  at  which  place  they  were  met  by  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Flanagan,  C.  P.,  who  remained  with  them 
until  the  train  moved  from  the  station.  Margaret  re- 
mained calm  until  she  bade  her  mother  "good-by":  then 
for  the  first  time  nature  asserted  itself  and  she  wept 
with  the  anguish  of  parting  from  so  loved  a  parent. 


36    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Margaret  wrote  home  in  her  first  letter,  "I  looked 
from  the  car  window,  and  when  I  saw  mother's  face, 
I  could  not  refrain  from  crying,  and  for  a  long 
time  I  could  not  regain  my  self-control." 

She  was  met  in  Cincinnati  by  Rev.  Alexis  Bier- 
mier,  C.  P.,  who  accompanied  her  to  the  Convent, 
where  she  arrived  at  seven  in  the  evening.  In  Mar- 
garet's eight-mile  drive  in  the  Convent  bus,  she 
observed  the  fine  road  splendidly  paved  by  the 
efforts  of  the  pioneer  Ursulines.  On  either  side  of 
this  road,  wild  roses  and  other  flowers  peculiar  to 
Ohio  hedge  the  way  while  glints  in  the  forest  let 
in  the  ruddy  light  of  sunset. 

She  thus   described   her  impressions: 

"A  sudden  rift  in  the  trees  made  a  fellow  pas- 
senger exclaim,  'Ah,  there's  Old  Brown !'  Looking 
where  his  eyes  indicated,  I  beheld  the  domes  of  the 
Convent.  A  shrill  whistle  from  Dan  the  driver,  a 
little  further  travel,  and  the  'bus'  halts  at  the  board- 
ing-house. Dan  throws  down  the  mail :  another 
crack  of  the  whip  and  then  on  through  the  Convent 
grounds.  'Here  is  Lake  Stanislaus!'  triumphantly 
calls  out  another  passenger,  well  acquainted  with 
the  topography  of  the  domain.  'See  the  girls,  lean- 
ing on  their  oars :  look  at  the  swans !  See  them  swim ! 
And   those  beautiful  Australian   ducks !' 

"I  admire  everything,  the  arbors,  the  rolling 
lawn,  the  priests'  house  and  the  winding  driveway. 
Our  conveyance  pulls  up  at  the  main  building  and 
the  passengers  alight.  Another  crack  of  the  whip 
and  the  bus  heads  for  Fayetteville,  where  Dan  finds 
surcease  from  toil  till  the  morrow." 


PART  II 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  holy  ardor  marked  Margaret's  swift  ascent 
up  the  high  flight  of  steps  leading  to  the  hall  door 
of  the  Convent.  The  portresses  were  there  as  was 
their  wont  on  the  arrival  of  the  'bus.  A  few  moments 
more  and  Margaret  was  welcomed  by  the  Mother 
Superior,  Mother  Theresa,  and  by  the  Mistress  of 
Novices,  Mother  Ursula.  At  this  first  meeting, 
mutual  love  and  trust  were  born,  which  grew  apace 
with  time.  Supper  over,  Margaret  with  Mother 
Ursula  escorted  Rev.  Father  Biermier  to  the  priests' 
house,  wherein  he  received  genuine  French  hospital- 
ity from  Rev.  Father  Cheymol,  the  Sisters'  Chaplain. 

Returning  to  the  parlor,  Margaret  knelt  beside 
her  spiritual  Mother  and  in  humble  but  glowing 
words  thanked  her  for  having  received  one  so  un- 
worthy as  she  deemed  herself  to  be.  "To  dwell 
under  the  same  roof  with  my  Lord  is  my  great 
joy!"  she  said,  "and  how  I  wish  to  make  my  life 
henceforth  one  grand  act  of  thanksgiving!"  Then 
kissing  the  hand  of  her  Mistress  of  Novices,  she 
asked  to  visit  our  Lord  in  His  Tabernacle.  Once 
there,  how  she  poured  forth  her  thanks,  how  she 
dedicated  her  future  life,  and  how  she  spoke  of 
those  who  mourned  her  loss! — all  this  can  be  imag- 
ined by  those  who  knew  the  fervor  of  her  outpour- 
ings of  love  before  our  Lord  on  the  Altar.  So 
fervent  was  she  that  she  heeded  not  the  wonder  of 
art,  the  beautiful  chapel,  wherein  rested  the  golden 


40    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Tabernacle  of  the  Prisoner  of  Love.  Here  the  pain 
of  separation  and  the  fatigue  of  traveling  totally 
vanished;  for  when  she  reappeared,  so  refreshed  was 
she  that  she  seem^ed  like  one  who  had  found  her 
true  place  in  the  deep  security  of  conventual  dwell- 
ing: the  compass  needle  of  her  inclinations  had 
found  its  polar  star  and  was  at  rest;  hence,  no 
more  weary  flutterings  at  the  pivot  upon  which 
previous  resolution  had  been  revolving.  Ensuing 
days  unfolded  to  her  how  rich  was  the  happiness 
of  a  life  that  was  spiritually  nourishing  so  great  a 
number  of  human  beings,  the  noblest  and  happiest 
on  earth — human  beings,  who,  bent  on  perfecting  the 
functions  of  body  and  soul  to  the  utmost,  were 
concomitantly  obtaining  the  widest  possible  influence 
over  others.  A  strange  commonwealth  she  found, 
which  annihilating  self-interest,  transfers  all  energies 
to  the  community  whose  weal  is  the  business  of 
each  member. 

The  first  weeks  of  Margaret's  postulation  were 
spent  in  observing  the  labyrinthic  ways  of  the  build- 
ing, in  becoming  acquainted  with  the  daily  routine, 
and  in  the  performance  of  such  duties  as  candidates 
are  given,  the  while  their  gold  is  being  tested  in  the 
alembic  of  spirituality  and  common  sense. 

The    following   letter   to   her   sister   Ursulines    in 
London,    Ohio,    will    illustrate    both    her    work    and 
small  first  trials: 
"Dear  Sisters : 

"Mother  says  that  we  novices  must  take  turns  in 
sending  to  you  each  day's  news,  and  since  my  turn 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    41 

comes  to-day,  I  feel  myself  honored  overmuch  in 
being  scribe :  every  twenty-fifth  day  I  presume  I 
shall  write,  for  we  are  twenty-five  novices. 

"My  Angel,*  Sister  Antonia,  is  acquitting  herself 
in  my  behalf  with  zeal  and  discretion;  besides  she 
is  ingenious  in  circumventing  my  mistakes.  She 
has  given  me  'Tact'  as  a  little  virtue  to  practise; 
but  with  all  her  help,  I  find  myself  in  trouble 
enough.  As  an  instance,  a  few  days  ago,  I  went  to 
the  Chapel  and  there  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
I  found  Sister  Bernardine  in  tears.  I  went  to  her 
and  said,  'Crying,  Sister?  Crying,  and  the  Spouse 
so  near?'  Sister  gave  me  an  amused  though  grate- 
ful look,  but  said  nothing.  I  told  Sister  Antonia 
what  I  had  done  and  how  Sister  Bernardine  had 
said  never  a  word  in  answer  to  my  sympathy,  to 
which  Sister  Antonia  replied,  'Sister  Bernardine 
has  lost  a  dear  friend;  and  you,  without  permission, 
should  not  speak  to  the  older  nuns,  nor  should  you 
without  necessity  speak  in   Chapel.' 

"Another  cross  came  later.  I  have  charge  of  the 
aquarium.  The  other  night,  I  filled  it  with  water 
but  I  did  not  notice  that  I  had  poured  in  water 
above  the  safety  mark  for  the  gold-fish.  Next 
morning,  I  found  the  dear  little  things  on  the  floor 
quite  dead.  Hope  against  hope  compelled  me  to 
throw  the  fishes  back  into  the  aquarium — but,  alas! 
they    sank    to    the    bottom.      Forgetting    my    finely 


*  Angel   is   a   name   given   to   the   sister  who   installs   the 
incoming  postulant. 


f 


42    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

laundered  dress,  I  put  my  arm  up  to  the  shoulder 
into   the   water. 

"Finally  securing  the  fish ;  and  with  sleeves  and 
cape  dripping,  I  took  them  to  their  owner.  Mother 
Berchmans.  I  met  her  in  the  children's  corridor, 
and  promptly  falling  on  my  knees,  and  still  dripping 
from  shoulders  and  elbows,  I  accused  myself  of  my 
carelessness.  Then  I  awaited  results.  Mother  Berch- 
mans said,  'My  child,  tell  your  Mistress  of  Novices 
what  has  occurred  and  she  will  attend  to  it.' 

"I  arose  and  hastened  to  Mother's  'cabinet,'  where 
I  learned  that  giving  an  account  of  one's  faults  should 
not  be  done  in  public  places.  For  penance,  I  was  told 
to  take  the  Life  of  St.  Francis  of  Assisi  to  chapel  and 
read  his  little  sermon  to  the  fishes :  indeed,  the  pathetic 
sight  of  the  little  creatures  that  my  carelessness  had 
killed  was  quite  a  penance  in  itself.  I  resolved  to  be 
very  careful  as  to  accusing  myself  in  public  places 
and  to  be  more  attentive  to  my  charges.    Love  to  all." 

Margaret's  first  letters  to  her  family  are  most 
flattering  to  "Brown  County,"  as  the  Convent  of  St. 
Martin's  is  sometimes  called;  especially  was  she 
impressed  by  the  culture  of  the  sisters,  whom  she 
likened  to  a  congregation  of  scholars,  secluded  with- 
in their  goodly  acres  with  never  a  thing  to  bring 
them  into  contact  with  the  commonplace.  Their 
dwelling  was  a  seat  of  learning  for  young  ladies  not 
only   of   Ohio  but  also   of   surrounding   States.     Even 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    43 

Europeans  and  South  Americans  were  among  the 
students. 

"Indian  summer  is  making  the  upper  air  brilliant 
with  its  wealth  of  crimson,  gold,  and  russet;  while 
gorgeously  repeating  these  tints  in  the  leafy  carpets 
underneath.  The  soft,  dreamy  atmosphere  and  the 
deep,  religious  quiet  quicken  the  pulse  of  body  and  of 
soul" — such  is  some  of  the  description  in  Margaret's 
first  letters  to  her  expectant  mother  and   sisters. 

In  another  letter,  we  find  her  impression  of  God's 
Acre  wherein  lie  some  of  her  Ursuline  predecessors. 
She  describes  this  resting  place  of  the  dead,  the 
sunniest,  sweetest  place — quite  in  keeping  with  the 
beautiful  lines  of  Davis: 

"Nor  sods  too  deep;  but  so  that  the  dew, 
The  matted  grass-roots,  may  trickle  through. 
Be  (their)  epitaph  writ  on  (their)  country's  mind 
They  served   (their)   country  and  loved   (their)   kind." 

"The  little  head-stones,"  Margaret  wrote,  "are 
as  uniform  as  the  dress  the  sisters  wore  in  life,  and 
like  heaven's  great  cosmopolitan  assembly,  so  seemed 
these  sleepers — French  and  German,  Spanish  and 
Italian,  English  and  Irish,  Austrian  and  American — 
for  these  nations  had  recruited  "Old  Brown,"  from 
their  lofty  womanhood,  and  these  women  in  turn, 
recruited  heaven  by  a  still  loftier  type,  sainted 
womanhood.  Larger  head-stones  mark  the  resting 
place  of  beloved  friends:  Mrs.  Johanna  Purcell, 
mother  of  the  great  Metropolitan  and  (Thurch  pioneer 
of  the  West,  Most  Reverend  John  Baptist  Purcell, 
D.   D. ;   Miss   Kate,   his   sister;  beside  whom  are  two 


44    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

vacant  places  to  be  occupied  later,  the  one  by  Father 
Edward  Purcell,  brother  of  the  Archbishop,  and  the 
other  by  the  great  Prelate  himself,  who  whilst  yet  in 
life  has  signified  the  intention  that  his  mortal  remains 
should  lie  amidst  those  of  his  beloved  Ursulines." 

Hearing  from  time  to  time  bits  of  sweetest  his- 
tory concerning  sleepers  beneath  these  humble  little 
head-stones,  Margaret  was  wont  to  exclaim,  "How 
the  mighty  ones  have  fallen !"  Indeed,  had  the  royal 
bard  known  Christian  types  of  womanhood,  his 
panegyric  over  them  would  be  scarcely  less  touch- 
ing than  that  uttered  over  Saul  and  Jonathan. 

At  the  tomb  of  Mother  Julia  Chatfield,  Margaret 
often  lingered.  The  spirit  of  this  noble  woman  still 
dominated  all.  Her  example  while  living,  was  an 
incentive  to  good,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  follow- 
ing pages. 

Very  Reverend  James  Callaghan,  D.  D.,  says  of  her: 

"An  English  lady  by  birth,  a  convert  to  the 
faith  by  the  grace  of  God ;  a  daughter  of  St.  Ursula 
by  her  religious  profession; — the  foundress  of  a 
Convent  and  Academy  famed  far  and  wide  for  the 
piety  and  educational  ability  of  its  sisterhood,  which 
this  great  nun  trained  for  their  high  and  holy  voca- 
tion; a  Superioress  for  thirty  years,  always  fulfilling 
the  command  of  the  Divine  Master  to  His  Apostles 
by  being  the  least  among  her  sisters  and  the  servant 
of  all.  Mother  Julia  Chatfield,  whose  name  is  spoken 
by  thousands  with  a  tender  veneration  which  her 
virtue  never  failed  to  inspire,  was  of  the  saints  of 
earth.     She  is  numbered  with  the  saints  in  heaven. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    45 

In  this  broad  land  the  virgins  of  the  sanctuary,  now 
counted  by  thousands,  are  the  pride  and  joy  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  By  their  angelic  purity,  by  their 
ceaseless  charity,  by  their  prayers  that  burn  with 
the  deepest  love  of  God,  these  cloistered  hidden 
souls  make  our  faith  divinely  beautiful  to  men  who 
turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  word  of  God.  Among  these 
chosen  souls,  whom  God  can  make  by  the  gift  of 
His  graces,  so  beautiful  and  strong,  having  all  the 
traits  of  the  Valiant  woman,'  there  could  be  none 
more  dear  to  God  than  the  venerable  and  venerated 
Superioress  of  the  Ursulines  of  St.  Martins,  whom 
God  called  to  her  great  reward  on  the  Feast  of  All 
Souls.  It  would  be  no  excessive  praise  to  apply  to 
her  who  wore  with  honor  the  religious  habit  for 
forty-two  years,  the  words  of  the  Office  of  a  spouse 
of  Christ:  'Many  daughters  have  gathered  riches, 
but  thou  hast  surpassed  them  all.'  The  holiness  of 
her  life,  and  the  great  work  which  her  rare  virtues 
performed  cannot  be  told  in  words.  It  is  written  in 
more  enduring  characters  in  the  inexhaustible  labors, 
the  patient  toil  of  thirty  years;  it  is  inscribed  within 
the  walls  of  the  Convent  that  will  perpetuate  her 
praise  from  year  to  year  in  the  warm  attachment 
of  the  family  of  God,  who  knew  her  only  by  the 
title  of  Notre  Mere;  in  the  perfect  discipline,  and  the 
interior  spirit  which  her  example  breathed  into  her 
now  sorrow-stricken  community;  in  that  strange 
power  which  she  exercised,  so  marked,  so  clearly 
defined  in  the  Convent  of  St.  Martin's  of  assimilating 
to    herself    every    fresh    accession    and    of    winning 


46    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

through  the  virgin  family  she  trained  the  hearts 
of  the  thousands  of  pupils  who  bless  to-day  her 
sacred  memory.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  largely 
given  to  her,  and  the  successful  work  of  her  life  was 
to  impart  to  her  spiritual  children  the  same  spirit. 
Thirty  years  ago  this  good  and  great  nun  left 
the  Convent  of  the  Ursulines  at  Boulogne-sur-mer  in 
France  at  the  invitation  of  the  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati 
to  build  a  fair,  rich  tabernacle  to  God  in  a  Western 
wilderness.  She  was  called  to  a  hard  and  difficult 
undertaking.  But  little  of  wordly  assistance  could 
be  offered  to  her,  for  the  then  young  Bishop  of 
Cincinnati  had  no  wealth  to  keep  pace  with  his  zeal. 
He  was  the  poorest  of  the  poor.  But  this  faithful 
nun  was  filled  with  the  spirit  of  her  vocation;  she 
knew  that  it  was  well  to  be  poor  for  Christ's  sake. 
Like  St.  Theresa,  she  and  he  who  had  invited  her  to 
this  new  field  where  the  harvest  has  been  so  golden, 
so  precious,  while  they  confessed  themselves  nothing, 
knew  that  God  and  a  little  human  help  working 
with  them  were  everything.  The  past  tells  us  how 
abundantly  her  trust  in  God  has  been  rewarded. 
The  log-cabin  where  she  built  her  first  cells  for  the 
community  has  long  since  disappeared.  In  its  place 
has  risen  the  large,  beautiful,  spacious  Convent  and 
Academy  of  St.  Martins;  the  wilderness  has  literally 
blossomed  and  bloomed  into  a  garden  of  roses, 
which  has  filled  hundreds  of  homes  with  the  sweet, 
fragrant  odor  of  Christian  piety  and  knowledge. 
She  and  nearly  all  who  shared  in  her  struggles  with 
poverty    and    in   her   joy   of   being    made    like    Him 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    47 

who  was  poor  for  the  sake  of  His  brethren,  have 
fallen  asleep.  But  before  that  eternal  rest  came, 
God  built  for  Himself  through  her  more  grandly 
and  successfully  than  this  humble  religious  had  ever 
dreamed  of.  It  was  God's  work:  she  was  the  hum- 
ble, well-chosen  instrument,  and  the  work  was  ac- 
complished. Thirty  years  of  the  precious,  holy  life 
of  Mother  Julia  was  given  to  the  training  of  her 
admirable  sisterhood  and  to  the  education  of  thou- 
sands who  bless  the  day  they  crossed  the  threshold 
of  St.  Martins;  thirty  years  in  the  full  maturity  of 
her  wisdom  and  of  her  spiritual  strength  was  the 
offering  that  was  laid  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  silence  of  that  wilderness. 

What  tongue  shall  even  stammeringly  tell  the 
good  that  others  have  reaped  from  that  offering? 
Who  will  measure  the  knowledge  of  God  imparted 
by  her,  the  love  of  virtue  kindled,  the  sorrows 
soothed,  and  the  blessings  that  have  streamed  from 
that  fountain  of  piety  over  a  young  and  tender 
generation,  entrusted  by  parents  to  this  wise  and 
prudent  virgin?  God's  day  alone  will  reveal  all  this. 
We  hope  to  see  it  in  the  fulness  of  His  light. 

It  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  the  merits  of 
Mother  Julia  to  say  that  she  was  perfect  in  the 
observance  of  her  Rule  and  in  the  practice  of  the 
spirit  of  the  Institute.  The  greatest  self-denial  of 
religious  life  is  rigid  and  persevering  adherence  to 
the  rule  of  conventual  life  in  all  its  details.  From 
this,  springs  the  wonderful  unity  of  religious  life. 
It   is   thus   that   the   actions,   habits,    and   wishes,    and 


48    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

the  words  and  works  of  all  are  cast  in  one  divine 
mold.  It  is  the  source  of  that  beautiful  charity, 
stronger  than  any  natural  love  which  binds  a  holy 
sisterhood  together,  and  which  was  so  deeply  im- 
pressed by  the  guidance  and  example  of  Mother 
Julia  upon  her  community. 

In  Mother  Julia,  from  out  the  routine  and  severe 
simplicity  of  the  common,  exact,  religious  life,  there 
shone  forth  a  rare  intelligence,  an  intensity  of  char- 
ity, and  a  heavenly  form  of  wisdom,  which  marks 
those  called  to  be  rulers  of  as  well  as  examples  to 
their  sisterhood. 

What  shall  we  say  of  the  external  proof  of  the 
holiness  of  her  life ;  namely,  her  zeal  for  the  welfare 
of  others?  In  the  beautiful  institute  which  she  en- 
tered in  the  days  of  her  young  womanhood,  she 
found  the  means  of  saving  souls  and  of  promoting 
God's  glory.  Even  in  the  stress  of  physical  suffer- 
ing, she  never  flagged  or  gave  herself  the  slightest 
release  from  the  work  of  doing  good  to  others.  The 
vow  which  she  registered  to  instruct  others  in  the 
ways  of  wisdom,  was  most  faithfully  fulfilled.  On 
the  white,  unwritten  page  of  the  souls  of  the  pupils 
of  St.  Martins,  she  traced  deeply  the  lessons  of  the 
eternal  truth  by  the  veneration  which  her  virtue 
elicited.  The  career  of  her  pupils  through  life,  while 
it  shows  that  the  seed  of  knowledge  did  not  dry  up 
and  wither  in  their  hearts,  at  the  same  time  tells 
how  perfectly  Mother  Julia  fulfilled  her  blessed  voca- 
tion. To  have  had  such  an  instructress  was  a  special 
benediction.     How  many  of  them  have   felt   this ! 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    49 

Many  a  time  in  the  hour  of  seductive  or  fierce 
temptation  has  the  former  pupil  of  St.  Martins  seen 
rising  before  her  in  fancy's  vision,  the  holy  nun  w^ho 
w^as  her  mistress  in  the  convent,  and  the  meek  re- 
proach or  solemn  warning  which  that  vision  brought, 
was  a  saving  grace.  It  was  she  whose  memory 
threw  over  all  the  pupils  a  network  of  affection, 
which  seemed  to  cover  and  keep  them  together,  no 
matter  how  much  they  might  be  separated  by  dis- 
tance. 

No  one  charged  with  the  government  of  others 
possessed  a  greater  power  of  discerning  dispositions 
and  molding  characters.  She  was  a  wise  virgin 
and  of  the  number  of  the  prudent.  She  found  out 
natural  inclinations,  and  by  her  fostering  care,  they 
were  developed  into  virtue.  She  could  gently  lay 
hold  of  every  principle  of  goodness  in  the  soul  of  a 
young  pupil  or  novice  and  give  to  it  by  her  words 
and  example  the  strength  of  endurance. 

But  the  full  value  of  the  life  of  Mother  Julia, 
its  sustained  consistency,  the  beauty  of  holiness 
that  was  within,  God  alone  knew,  and  she  wished 
that  God  alone  should  know  it.  God  gave  to  her 
four  years  of  suffering  before  merciful  death  came, 
so  that  the  patience  of  the  martyr  might  complete 
the  work  of  His  grace  in  her  soul. 

During  that  slow,  often  agonizing  approach  to 
the  grave,  no  murmur  ever  escaped  her  lips,  no 
shadow  of  complaint  crossed  the  face  of  this  wise 
virgin.  "Blessed  is  that  servant  whom  when  the 
Lord  shall  come  he  shall  find  so  doing."     Over  forty 


50    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

years  ago  the  minister  of  God  said  to  her  on  the 
threshold  of  the  sanctuary  in  the  beautiful  ritual  of 
the  profession  of  an  Ursuline,  "Come,  Spouse  of 
Christ.  Receive  the  crown  which  the  Lord  hath 
prepared  for  thee  from  Eternity."  The  crown  to 
which  she  was  called,  which  she  seized  with  more 
eagerness  and  love  than  any  queen  ever  sought 
earthly  diadem,  was  the  crown  of  self-denial,  the 
crown  of  sacrifice.  Into  that  pure  white  crown  God 
wove  the  red  of  His  Passion.  Unstained  she  wore 
it  for  more  than  forty  years.  She  was  thus  pre- 
pared for  the  coming  of  the  Heavenly  Bridegroom 
on  the  day  of  the  week  sacred  to  the  Immaculate 
Heart  of  Mary,  the  Patronal  Feast  of  the  religious 
community  to  which  she  belonged.  Under  the 
patronage  of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary,  she 
placed  the  convent  she  built,  and  the  pious  community 
gathered  within  its  walls.  On  All  Souls'  Day,  the  day 
on  which  the  whole  Church  is  breathing  forth  its 
prayers  for  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed,  God 
lovingly  called  to  Himself  this  faithful  servant.  Again 
she  heard  the  words  of  consolation  spoken  by  the 
Master  Himself:  "Come,  Spouse  of  Christ.  Come, 
thou  shalt  be  crowned;  receive  the  crown  of  eternal 
joy,  the  reward  of  a  life  of  continuous  sacrifice." 

On  November  4th,  1876,  Feast  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo,  one  of  the  special  saintly  patrons  of  the  Ur- 
suline Order,  the  mourning  sisters  of  Mother  Julia 
Chatfield  laid  to  rest  the  body  which  had  enshrined 
as  pure,  as  noble  a  soul  as  was  ever  consecrated  to 
God's  service  by  the  hand  of  religion. 

Her  portion  is  surely  life  everlasting. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Notre  Mere,  as  Mother  Julia  was  fondly  called, 
together  with  her  nine  associates,  had  followed 
closely  in  the  footprints  of  St.  Angela,  the  beautiful 
prototype  of  Ursulines;  and  since  Margaret  was 
studying  the  spirit  and  labors  of  such  saintly  women, 
a  word  also  of  the  blessed  Maid  of  Desenzano,  may 
not  be  out  of  place. 

St.  Angela  of  Merici  was  not  only  the  Morning 
Star  of  feminine  education  but  also  was  she  the 
exemplar  of  its  practical  activities. 

At  Desenzano,  Italy,  where  the  holy  maiden  Hved, 
she  gathered  around  her  young  girls,  her  former  friends 
and  playmates,  whom  she  trained  in  the  ways  of 
God.  They  in  turn  became  her  coadjutors  and  con- 
tinued her  glorious  work.  Their  native  Italy  rang 
with  approval  of  and  astonishment  at  Angela's 
grasp  of  the  needs  of  the  time  and  her  efforts  in 
supplying  it  with  an  educated  womanhood.  Out 
upon  the  war-racked  world,  out  upon  the  devastated 
trail  of  Louis  XII.  in  his  campaign  of  French  dom- 
ination in  Italy,  went  Angela's  counteracting  forces 
to  alleviate  the  horrors  along  the  bloody  trail  of  the 
ruthless  Gaston  de  Foix — Bayard  tells  us  twenty- 
two  thousand  persons,  regardless  of  age  or  sex,  were 
butchered  by  the  soldiery  in  Brescia  alone. 

The  holy  Maid  of  Dezenzano,  as  St.  Angela  was 
called,  followed  up  the  spoiler  and  brought  consola- 
tion to  the  stricken  inhabitants  of  her  native  Brescia. 


52    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross. 

To  imitate  St.  Angela  and  the  many  holy  predeces- 
sors in  the  Ursuline  Order  was  Margaret's  ambition. 
She  longed  for  the  day  to  come  when  she  would  be 
allowed  to  go  among  the  children  to  continue  St. 
Angela's  noble  work. 

Postulants  of  the  Ursuline  Order  are  not  ad- 
mitted to  penitential  practices;  but  Margaret,  in  the 
secrecy  of  her  cell,  was  using  a  sharp  discipline,  the 
same  she  was  wont  to  use  in  her  little  dormitory 
in  Sheridan  Center.  Some  misgiving  as  to  whether 
she  should  perform  this  bodily  mortification  without 
the  sanction  of  obedience,  caused  her  to  seek  counsel 
from  the  Mistress  of  Novices.  The  latter,  knowing 
that  in  Margaret  she  was  in  possession  of  a  golden 
treasure  that  must  needs  be  purified  from  every 
dross,  reproved  her  severely  for  her  liberty  of  spirit 
in  this  respect  and  told  her  to  replace  the  scourge 
until  told  to  use  it  under  direction.  Margaret  obeyed 
with  docility  and  set  about  her  other  duties,  thinking 
that  perhaps  their  difficulties  would  offer  some  com- 
pensation for  this  deprivation. 

Another  letter  which  she  sent  to  the  nuns  alluded 
to  in  a  previous  letter  shows  how  she  tried  to  secure 
this  compensation : 

"Dear  Sisters: 

"Again  my  turn  veers  round  to  send  you  a  few 
lines  and,  I  must  say,  it  is  a  real  pleasure.  The 
novices  here  are  queer  beings.  Do  you  know  that 
they  are  as  avaricious  of  hard,  uninviting  work  as 
people  generally  are  of  congenial  tasks?  To-day  we 
were    sent    to    wash    the    dishes    and    what    do    you 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    53 

think?  There  was  a  scramble  as  to  who  should 
secure  for  her  portion  of  the  work  the  ugly,  greasy 
pots  and  pans.     I  entered  the  lists  and  won. 

*'At  an  early  hour  this  morning,  Sister  A 

in  some  mysterious  way  became  cognizant  of  the  fact 
that  there  was  an  unusually  big  wash.  I  also  hap- 
pened into  the  laundry  at  an  early  hour  and  found 
her  in  check  apron  and  sabots,  her  fine  white  arms 
careering  up  and  down  on  the  washboard  in  rhythmic 
melody  while  copious  perspiration  kept  up  a  run- 
ning accompaniment.  I  approached  her  and  prof- 
fered my  services,  but  I  was  told  I  had  no  permis- 
sion; so  I  returned  and  found  a  group  of  other 
novices  laughing,  while  one  was  relating  some  inci- 
dent evidently  amusing.  I  joined  the  group  and  be- 
tween their  fits  of  mirth  I  heard  the  following: 

"Very  early  this  morning  Sister  G heard 

a  violent  ringing  of  the  front  door-bell.  Urging  her 
speed  to  its  utmost,  she  opened  the  door  and  there 
stood  John  Doolan  the  foreman. 

"  'Sister,'  he  said  excitedly.  'Charlie  Swan  is 
dead.' 

"'Did    the    priest    reach    him    in    time?'    inquired 

Sister  G A  loud  laugh  from  John  brought 

indignant  blood  to  Sister's  cheek,  while  John  be- 
tween fits  of  uncontrollable  laughter  said,  'Sure  it 
would  be  a  quare  thing  entirely  to  send  Father 
Cheymol  to  the  poor  swan,  although  some  say  the 
crathers  can  go  to  some  heaven  of  their  own.' 

"On  the  strength  of  this  incident,  we  obtained 
recreation,  and  Sister  G was  called  upon 


54    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

many  times  during  the  day  to  relate  her  story  of 
Charlie  Swan,  and  (tell  it  not  in  Gath),  the  story 
lost  nothing  by  reiterations  in  German,  French,  and 
English. 

"An  ocean  of  love  is 'flowing  towards  you  from 
here,  and  since  every  little  helps,  I  add  my  tribute, 
so  that  each  Sister  may  be  as  greedy  as  she  chooses 
in    appropriating   her    share." 

Thus  in  convents,  where  wordly  affairs  are 
absent,  little  things  provoke  mirth,  and  cheerfulness 
holds  sway.  To  this  fact  Margaret  was  keenly  alive. 
She  noticed  also  how  innocent  scenes  threw  the 
charm  of  uncorrupted  life  over  her  youthful  co- 
workers, making  their  amusements  frequent  while 
smoothing  the  harshness  of  life.  She  observed,  too, 
that  the  ascetic  severity  practiced  in  religious  com- 
munities is  so  tempered  that  it  never  freezes  the 
genial  current  of  God-given  mirth  and  laughter,  and 
who  so  happy  and  cheerful  as  God's  saints  who  pos- 
sess the  sesame  of  life's  full  meaning? 

Try  this  sesame,  ye  who  would  drink  deep  of 
the  cup  of  joy  and  prove  how  good  a  thing  it  is  to 
serve  the  Lord  your  God.  From  this  cup  Margaret 
was  daily  refreshed  while  its  inebriating  effects  kept 
her  in  perpetual  gladness  and  made  her  long  for  the 
day  of  her  religious  clothing.  Great  was  her  dis- 
appointment, however,  when  she  became  aware  that 
she  must  wait  some  months  for  a  postulant  who 
entered  later  than  herself,  thus  avoiding  two  cere- 
monies in  close  sequence.  This  postponement  she 
bore    with    her    usual    serenity,    and   by   prayer  and 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    55 

mortification  she  made  herself  daily  more  worthy 
of  the  spiritual  engagement  that  she  was  to  contract 
with  her  Lord  and  Spouse. 

The  novices  near  whom  she  sat  at  table  marveled 
to  see  that  even  on  Feast-days  she  seemed  never  to 
gratify  the  palate;  nor  did  she  take  food  for  any 
other  purpose  than  as  a  means  to  obtain  life's  best 
results,  suppressing  every  craving  to  the  contrary, 
although  when  server  she  was  careful  to  procure  for 
others  the  best  within  her  reach. 

She  looked  upon  her  monastic  little  world  as  a 
miniature  Utopia;  and  in  later  life,  when  she  came 
in  contact  with  socialists  and  their  theory  of  com- 
munity life,  she  frequently  waxed  warm  on  their 
stupidity,  who  if  they  cared  to  study  could  see  in 
every  monastery  a  perfect  Utopia.  Such  study  would 
convince  her  how  admirably  adapted  to  the  highest 
ideals  are  monastic  institutions.  Should  they  find 
therein  a  healthy  severity,  they  would  also  find  a 
healthy  joy  and  happiness.  Those,  who  by  nature, 
are  inert  and  tepid  would  perforce  become  useful, 
filling  some  void  in  this  well  organized  common- 
wealth. Here  would  be  grappled  the  two  wonder- 
ful problems  that  stagger  human  intelligence :  "The 
one,  the  rhapsody  of  grace,  that  makes  saints;  the 
other,  the  dirge  of  disgrace,  that  makes  sinners." 

"Keep  your  rule,  my  child,  and  your  rule  will 
keep  you,"  was  the  counsel  which  Margaret  often 
received  from  her  holy  Mistress  of  Novices;  and  the 
study  of  the  rules  helped  her  over  the  period  of 
waiting  to  receive  the  veil.     Margaret's  joy  was  in- 


56    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

creasing  as  the  period  was  decreasing.  "But,"  sug- 
gested Mother  Ursula,  "what  if  you  are  not  re- 
ceived !  Had  you  not  better  have  your  trunk  in 
readiness  in  the  event  of  your  being  obliged  to 
return  home?" 

"Mother,  I  shall  never  go;  for  our  Lord  would 
not  do  anything  so  diametrically  opposed  to  the  will 
of  one  whom  He  knows  wishes  with  all  her  heart  to 
be  His  alone." 

Notwithstanding  her  brave  speech,  she  redoubled 
her  prayers  and  austerities  and  calmly  awaited  re- 
sults. Great,  therefore,  was  her  happiness  when  the 
moment  came  to  make  her  demands  for  admission 
into  the  Ursuline  Order  and  greater  still  her  joy  on 
hearing,  "My  child,  you  have  been  received  into  the 
Community.  Come  this  evening  to  begin  your  prep- 
aration  for  the  religious  clothing." 

Money  to  cover  expenses  of  reception  was  in  Mar- 
garet's possession,  but  this  she  laid  before  Mother 
Ursula  with  the  requests  that  it  might  be  used  for  any 
purpose  she  wished  and  that  a  costume  worn  by  one  of 
her  predecessors  might  be  remodeled  for  herself.  She 
discovered  also  an  old  cloak  which  had  belonged  to  a 
saintly  deceased  nun.  This  mantle  she  earnestly 
asked  to  be  given  her,  for  as  poverty  was  to  St. 
Francis  a  delight,  a  treasure — to  Margaret  it  seemed 
not  less  so. 

These  matters  settled  to  her  satisfaction,  she 
entered  on  her  retreat  and  three  days  thereafter,  the 
splendid  ceremonial  of  the  Order  of  St.  Ursula  was 
carried  out  in  the  chapel,  and  Margaret,  now  bear- 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    57 

ing  the  name  of  Sister  Mary  Paul,  arose  from  the 
solemn  Prostration,  which  is  a  closing  feature  of  the 
ceremony,  to  embrace  her  sisters  into  the  company  of 
whom  she  had  sought  admission. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Novitiate  now  began  in  earnest,  and  each 
day  Sister  Mary  Paul,  as  she  will  henceforth  be  called, 
was  becoming  more  convinced  that  it  was  good 
beyond  all  else  to  serve  the  Lord;  and  she  strove 
more  than  ever  to  live  her  Ursuline  life  in  all  its 
fulness. 

We  have  said  in  the  early  chapters  of  this 
biography  that  the  Passionist  Order  had  interested 
our  saintly  novice,  and  now  that  she  bore  the  name 
of  its  holy  Founder,  St.  Paul  of  the  Cross,  she  took 
him  for  her  model,  and  those  who  worked  beside  her 
knew  how  closely  she  followed  in  his  footprints. 
Like  Enoch  of  old,  she  "walked  with  God." 

It  astonished  her  co-workers  to  note  the  number 
of  visits  she  made  daily  to  our  dear  Lord  in  His 
Tabernacle,  especially  when  they  knew  that  two 
flights  of  stairs  and  long  corridors  lay  between  her 
duties  and  the  chapel  and  that  often  only  a  genuflec- 
tion and  fervent  aspiration  could  be  the  extent  of 
her  visit.  Her  quickness  in  these  visits  was  likened 
to  a  humming-bird  in  its  darting,  carrying  back 
similarly  sweet  nectar  for  future  life  and  strength. 
Wher^  told  that  she  was  fatiguing  herself  by  so  much 
effort,  she  would  smilingly  say, 

"He  who   loves,  labors  not." 

As  star  differs  from  star  in  glory,  so  likewise 
novitiate  differs  from  novitiate  in  the  brightness  of 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross     59 

virtue.  It  so  happened  that  Sister  Mary  Paul's  lines 
fell  among  the  brightest  of  these  dove-cots,  and  as 
she  says  in  one  of  her  letters,  she  was  profoundly 
edified  by  the  manner  in  which  her  sister-novices 
vied  with  one  another  in  the  race  not  only  to  win 
heaven,  but  also  the  highest  heaven. 

Over  this  novitiate,  as  has  been  said,  presided  the 
saintly  Mother  Ursula,  who  for  love  of  her  spiritual 
children  and  their  heaven-directed  interests  could 
not  be  surpassed.  Her  wise  counsel  and  her  vigi- 
lance had  but  one  aim,  the  perfection  of  the  lives 
committed  to  her  care. 

Manifestation  of  conscience  according  to  the 
usage  of  the  Ursuline  Directory,  was  practiced  by 
the  novices,  and  whatever  abuses  concerning  this  whole- 
some mortification  occurred  elsewhere,  among  Sister 
Mary  Paul's  sister  novices,  it  was  productive  of  the 
highest  good.  The  evening  manifestation,  preparing 
as  it  did  for  the  morrow's  Holy  Communion,  was 
always  a  step  heavenward,  and  steadily  and  surely 
did  it  advance  the  upward  journey. 

Time  was  so  divided  by  prayer,  study,  and  man- 
ual labor  that  the  best  moral,  mental,  and  physical 
results  accrued  therefrom  and  Sister  Mary  Paul's 
alacrity  along  these  lines  was  astonishing  and  often 
the  theme  of  pleasant  raillery,  for  frequently  she  was 
told  by  a  sister-novice  that  she  should  have  scruples 
for  flying  too  fast  to  her  work. 

"Dear  sister,"  said  the  flyer,  "I  never  have  time 
to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  scruples;  I'll  leave  them 
to  people  who  have  leisure." 


6o    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Her  progress  in  secular  studies  kept  pace  with 
those  of  her  religious  ones.  Mathematics  and  kin- 
dred subjects  were  more  to  her  taste  than  others, 
and  she  often  said  to  literary  students,  "I  am  too 
matter-of-fact  for  the  poetical";  however,  she  ap- 
plied herself  to  the  Latin  language  with  great  facil- 
ity; and  the  poetical  works  of  Horace  and  Virgil 
had  few  keener  students.  In  later  life,  these  subjects 
were  taught  by  Sister  Mary  Paul,  and  priests  and  pro- 
fessors who  attended  her  examinations  complimented 
her  on  her  excellent  methods  of  presenting  the 
classics  to  the  uninitiated.  Even  studies  for  which 
she  had  less  aptitude  received  her  full  attention,  when- 
ever obedience  charged  her  with  them. 

The  two  retreats  made  during  her  noviceship 
show  from  her  resolution  book  how  much  in  earnest 
she  was.  Regarding  the  Vow  of  Poverty  she  writes, 
"I  must  not  only  be  poor  in  spirit,  but  also  in  very 
deed.  If,  when  supplies  are  given  us,  I  have  choice 
of  two  things,  I  shall  always  select  the  inferior, 
leaving  the  better  article  for  others  who  are  far  more 
deserving  of  good  things  than  I,"  and,  in  truth,  to 
this  resolution  she  adhered  to  her  death.  "I  shall 
not  waste  time,  and  for  my  Patron  in  this  resolution, 
I  now  take  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori,  from  whom  I 
shall  try  to  deserve  help."  Be  it  known  that  St. 
Alphonsus  had  taken  a  vow  never  to  lose  time. 
Those,  who  for  forty  years  had  lived  and  worked 
with  our  saintly  sister,  testify  to  her  extraordinary 
attention  regarding  this  resolution,  and   St.   Liguori 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    6i 

himself  must  have  seen  from  heaven  what  a  close 
competitor  he  had. 

Another  of  her  resolutions  was  on  exactness,  in 
the  practice  of  which  she,  at  the  sound  of  the  bell, 
literally  left  the  "letter  unfinished"  and  hastened  to 
obey.  Almost  the  second  stroke  of  the  rising  bell 
throughout  her  life  found  her  on  her  knees  in  fervent 
communication  with  her  Maker.  "Exactness  is  a 
kingly  virtue,"  she  would  say,  "and  I,  who  aspire 
to  heaven's  queenship,  must  not  be  wanting  in  the 
King's  service,"  therefore  was  she  an  enemy  to  any- 
loitering  of  the  children  after  the  bell  had  called 
them;  and  many  of  them  in  after  life  felt  the  benefit 
of  her  exact  training. 

The  steps  she  took  in  these  virtues,  she  called 
stitches  in  the  black  veil,  which  she  was  most  eager 
to  see  finished  and  placed  on  her  head.  Well  afid 
carefully  had  her  black  veil  been  stitched,  and  by 
the  time  the  period  of  novitiate  had  expired,  the 
veil  was  indeed  prepared,  and  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the 
Cross,  radiant  with  hope  fulfilled,  presented  herself 
with  her  sisters  to  enter  the  remote  preparation  for 
Holy  Profession.  This  semi-retreat  lasts  eight 
weeks,  after  which  the  solemn  retreat  begins,  continuing 
about  ten  days,  and  during  this  period  a  novice  must 
study  deeply  the  life  she  proposes  to  herself,  her 
duties  to  the  Community,  and  its  duties  to  her.  She 
must  study  her  calling  in  its  severest  requirements 
to  ascertain  if  she  be  strong  enough  in  health,  will, 
and  affection  for  the  step  she  is  about  to  take.  She 
is  advised  not  to  undertake  the  life  unless  the  neces- 


62    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

sary  requisites  are  full  and  well-grounded;  but  in 
the  case  of  our  holy  novice,  nothing  could  be  more 
in  harmnoy  with  her  deep  religious  nature  than  the 
obligations  that  she  was  craving  to  contract;  and, 
in  fact,  a  misgiving  regarding  her  holy  vocation  did 
not  cross  her  mind  from  the  moment  of  her  entrance 
till  the  moment  of  her  death.  Therefore,  deep  and 
full  was  her  joy,  when  she  heard  the  Divine  whisper: 
"Come  into  a  desert  place  and  rest  awhile."  Eagerly 
she  went  and  sweetly  she  rested  in  the  holy  exercise 
of  prayer.  Her  extraordinary  correspondence  to 
grace  and  its  inspirations  deserved  for  her  those 
blessed  allurements  which  take  the  soul  into  the 
"Hollow  places  of  the  rocks,"  where,  in  profound 
silence,  it  hears  unspeakable  things  from  its  Beloved. 

In  the  first  week  of  May,  1881,  began  the  re- 
treat for  the  solemn  profession.  During  retreat  days, 
mortification  and  prayer  go  hand  in  hand.  Little 
sleep,  and  much  prayer  and  work,  was  the  routine 
for  the  four  and  twenty  hours  of  each  day;  but. 
Sister  M.  Paul  was  ever  describing  herself  as  living 
on  Thabor  from  which  she  would  fain  not  descend. 

May  4th  having  arrived,  our  fervent  novice  beheld 
with  joy  its  dawn. 

"Lo,  in  the  sanctuaried   East, 
Day,  a  dedicated  priest 
In  all  his  robes  pontifical  exprest, 
Lifteth   slowly,  lifteth   sweetly, 
From  out  its   Orient  tabernacle  drawn, 
Yon   orbed   sacrament   confest, 
Which    sprinkles    benediction    through    the    dawn." 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    63 

Such  dawning  stimulated  the  fervor  and  joyful 
anticipations  of  the  coming  nuptials  with  the  Lord 
of  heaven  and  earth.  The  world  saw  Day  coming, 
but  only  the  mystic  Bride  of  Christ  could  under- 
stand his  sacerdotal  pomp  on  this  occasion.  She, 
who  knew  her  ''potential  cousinship  with  mire," 
knew  also  that  the  soul  within  her  was  exulting 
with  closer  kinship  to  Christ  her  Lord.  She  felt 
herself,  as  indeed  she  was,  recreated  and  placed  in  a 
Terrestial  Paradise,  without  even  a  misgiving  of  for- 
bidden fruit,  serpent,  or  aught  that  could  cause  ex- 
pulsion therefrom,  for  she  possessed  an  over-master- 
ing confidence — this  child  of  intense  love.  "Thou 
hast  constituted  me  singularly  in  hope." 

Dressing  herself  with  more  devotion  than  or- 
dinary, she  was  fastening  on  her  girdle  when  she 
remarked  to  the  Mistress  of  Ceremonies,  "Earthly 
bridegrooms  encircle  their  bride's  finger  with  a 
circlet  of  gold,  but  mine  places  His  circlet  about  the 
heart,  the  region  of  love !"  Then  she  descended  to 
the  chapel  with  holy  eagerness,  saymg,  "Soon  my 
hand  will  clasp  His,  the  hand  of  my  heavenly 
Spouse  in  wedlock  to  unclasp  nevermore."  O  how 
majestically  beautiful  is  this  word  "Nevermore" 
when  it  excludes  all  that  is  opposed  to  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Supreme  Good! 

Eight  o'clock  May  4th  (1881)  witnessed  the 
sombre  procession  of  UrsuUnes,  bearing  tapers  and 
leading  the  eager  victims  to  the  morning  sacrifice. 
Slowly  and  solemnly,  the  priests  filed  into  the  chapel 
and  amidst  reverential  decorum,  holy  Mass  began  and 


64    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

continued  to  the  "Domine,  non  sum  dignus,"  when 
Sister  Mary  Paul,  the  senior  of  her  band,  approached 
the  altar,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment pronounced  the  holy  Vows  of  Poverty,  Chastity, 
Obedience  and  of  Employment  in  the  Instruction  of 
Young  Girls,  commonly  called  Institute.  These,  in 
the  secrecy  of  her  heart,  she  had  been  pronouncing  the 
greater  part  of  her  life. 

The  Most  Reverend  Archbishop  WilUam  Henry 
Elder,  D.  D.,  having  received  her  Vows,  invested  her 
with  the  black  veil  and  presented  the  Crucifix.  Then 
through  the  vaulted  arches  of  the  chapel  rang  the  glad 
Te  Deum — signal  for  the  newly  professed  to  fall  pros- 
trate before  the  altar  and  to  give  themselves  up  to  the 
solemn  thanksgiving  of  creature  to  the  Creator. 

If  beauty  be  the  Divine  thought  of  excellence,  the 
last  touch  on  God's  handiwork,  surely  a  scene  of  this 
kind  bears  the  genuine  stamp;  for  beautiful  were  the 
sanctities  of  flowers  strewn  by  innocent  hands  over  the 
prone  figures  before  the  sanctuary;  beautiful  the  sacer- 
dotal group  now  completing  the  functions  of  their 
morning  office;  beautiful  the  high  Priest  in  glittering 
vestments;  beautiful  the  sound  of  instruments  and 
voices  of  heavenly  sweetness  attuned  to  the  occasion; 
beautiful  the  souls  of  those  who  had  by  their  act  dem- 
onstrated that  one  moment  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord 
is  better  "than  thousands  in  the  tabernacles  of  sinners." 
For  the  nonce.  Heaven  seemed  very  near  the  earth,  so 
holy  were  the  feelings  which  were  keeping  the  souls 
of  the  newly  professed  oblivious  to  a  sinful  world,  but 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    65 

alive  to  the  blessed  soul-state  in  which  they  lay  pros- 
trate. 

The  Te  Deum  ends,  and  the  "Ecce  quam  bonum" 
recalls  them  to  the  world  of  sense.  Reluctantly  they 
rise,  and  like  the  men  of  Galilee  gazing  into  the  blue 
ether  where  Christ  had  just  become  invisible,  the  sis- 
ters also  seemed  to  hear  the  Angel  of  the  Ascension 
assuring  them  that  the  Christ  whom  they  had  seen, 
would  come  again;  and  if  now  they  must  forego  His 
blessed  intimacies,  yet  will  He  come  during  prayer  and 
work,  during  joys  and  sorrows,  during  health  and  sick- 
ness. But  the  "Ecce  quam  bonum"  of  the  nuns'  choir 
continues  to  invite  them  to  the  strangely-loving  exer- 
cise of  the  Ceremonies.  Obeying,  they  are  embraced 
first  by  the  Superioress,  then  by  the  members  of 
the  Community,  after  w^hich  they  retire  from  the 
holy  place  in  the  manner  of  their  entering,  and  soon 
they  find  themselves  in  the  midst  of  friends;  who 
some  laughing,  others  weeping,  greet  them  as  beings 
"too  pure  for  the  touch  of  a  word." 

Doing  some  violence  to  herself,  Sister  M.  Paul  goes 
forth  for  congratulation  to  the  festive  board  with  her 
friends;  but  on  her  way  thither,  she  must  pass  through 
gardens,  now  a  scenic  splendor  of  pink  and  green — the 
students  in  their  regulation  summer  costume  forming 
the  pink  contingent,  approach  en  masse,  and  circling 
round  her  inquire  if  she  were  not  "Awfully  glad  that 
the  long  retreat  was  over,"  and  the  like.  In  that  arch 
way  of  hers.  Sister  Mary  Paul  said,  "Dear  children,  if 
you  were  sophisticated  in  retreats  or  could  define  their 
meaning,  you  would  not  ask  these  questions.     I  advise 


66    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

that  you  give  retreats  one  good  trial;  then  if  you  will 
not  secure  them  at  any  cost,  it  will  be  strange  indeed." 

In  the  evening  of  this  auspicious  day,  the  guests 
among  whom  was  Bishop  Toebbe,  were  entertained  by 
a  play  and  by  tableaux  representing  the  martyrdom  of 
vSt.  Ursula  and  her  holy  companions. 

Thus  closed  Sister  M.  Paul's  day  of  days,  the  day 
of  her  "second  Baptism,"  as  Profession  in  the  religious 
life  is  wont  to  be  called.  The  spiritual  glory  of  it 
was  climbing  to  the  zenith,  losing  as  it  went  its  scenic 
splendor  to  yield  place  to  the  sanctities  of  deep  night. 
The  echo  of  divine  songs  rings  in  the  little  cell  wherein 
Sister  Mary  Paul  may  again  be  alone  with  her  Beloved. 
She  enters  fatigued,  it  may  be,  in  body;  but  how  ani- 
mating and  refreshing  to  her  soul  is  ever  divine  con- 
verse. 

Since  in  conventual  life,  its  to-morrows  are  like  its 
to-days  and  yesterdays,  the  professed  nun  finds  little 
difference  between  her  time  of  probation  and  that 
which  follows.  It  is  true,  the  anxiety  of  uncertainty 
gives  place  to  certainty  and  the  calmness  of  security 
in  God's  House  and  in  being  a  member  thereof  is 
thankfully  felt;  yet  the  Hfe  has  its  ups  and  downs,  its 
joys  and  sorrows,  and  did  these  not  abound  in  every 
phase  of  life,  might  we  not  die  of  inanity?  But  our 
lately  professed  was  destined  to  no  such  death.  She 
must  move  in  stirring  times,  for  there  had  been  shim- 
mering in  the  air,  more  than  faint  suggestions  of  a 
California  Ursuline  foundation ;  but  little  heed  gives 
Sister  Mary  Paul  to  things  which  she  says  do  not  con- 
cern her. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    67 

''Perhaps  you  might  be  sent  to  California  in  the  next 
band,"  remarks  a  young  companion.  "If  I  am  sent," 
she  replies,  "I  think  I  should  feel  greatly  honored  that 
God  selected  me  to  do  something  very  hard  for  Him. 
Why  should  I  wish  to  be  in  one  place  more  than  in 
another — for  'The  earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fullness 
thereof.' " 

July  of  this  year  ushered  in  the  hottest  weather 
ever  experienced  by  even  the  oldest  settlers  around 
Cincinnati.  The  annual  retreat  previously  arranged 
was  announced,  and  Rev.  Father  Brady,  S.  J.,  director 
of  the  retreat,  had  arrived  in  the  midst  of  the  over- 
whelming heat.  Rev.  Father  Cheymol  suggested  the 
advisability  of  postponing  the  exercises  to  a  cooler 
period,  but  Father  Brady,  with  the  proverbial  obedi- 
ence of  a  son  of  St.  Ignatius,  replied,  "I  am  sent  to 
conduct  this  retreat  and  must  begin  it  this  evening," 
and  he  added,  gravely,  "It  is  better  to  burn  here  than 
hereafter."  Accordingly  the  retreat  began  and  the 
"desert  place,"  to  which  retreat  is  likened,  did  not 
belie  its  full  scorching  significance.  But  the  beautiful 
example  of  the  director,  his  endurance  and  his  love 
for  God  which  rejoiced  at  inconvenience,  gave  so  fine 
an  impulse  to  the  exercitants  that,  when  they  had  fin- 
ished the  retreat,  all  pronounced  it  the  greatest  of  their 
lives. 

Sister  Mary  Paul  seemed  like  one  who  had  been  ad- 
mitted sooner  than  she  had  deserved  to  taste  again  the 
ineffable  sweetness  of  close  communion  with  God:  she 
heeded  not  the  great  heat  even  though  towels  instead 
of  handkerchiefs   were  used   to  stem  the  tide  of  per- 


68     Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

spiration.  In  the  free  time  she  prayed  on  in  the 
chapel,  while  some  sought  the  woods  for  coolness, 
though  in  vain;  for  fierce  heat  invaded  even  their 
density  precluding  the  smallest  mitigation  of  discom- 
fort. 

Retreat  being  over,  the  California  foundation  cloud 
shimmered  no  longer,  but  burst  upon  her  like  a  nimbus 
mass  with  never  a  suggestion  of  silver  lining;  for 
Ursulines  who  scarcely  know  what  parting  means,  are 
not  only  sisters  one  to  another,  but  also  beloved  friends 
whose  affections  are  severely  tried  by  separations. 

Among  those  to  be  sent  to  the  Golden  State  was 
Sister  Mary  Paul,  and  though  nature  was  wrenched  to 
its  depths,  no  demur  escaped  her;  .on  the  contrary,  a 
holy  joy  seemed  to  take  possession  of  her  as  she  pre- 
pared to  leave  St.  Martins  on  the  Feast  of  St.  Mary 
Magdalene,  1881.  Though  she  had  been  professed  a 
little  over  two  months,  to  detachment  and  its  accom- 
panying growth  in  holiness,  she  aspired.  Accordingly, 
on  the  morning  of  July  22nd,  she  bade  farewell  to  her 
beautiful  convent  home  and  to  its  holy  inmates,  and 
with  Mother  Gabriel,  Sisters  Agatha,  St.  John  and 
Martina,  departed  for  the  far  West. 

Since  God  is  not  outdone  in  generosity,  He  made 
the  journey  to  the  "Land  of  the  Setting  Sun"  full  of 
pleasure.  Most  congenial  to  her  nature  were  her  four 
companions,  and  as  the  vast  forest  of  the  Middle  West 
gradually  gave  place  to  the  vaster  prairies,  Sister  Mary 
Paul's  parting  griefs  were  yielding  place  to  joys  sacred 
to  the  friendship  of  her  fellow  travellers.  Although 
the  poetical  in  her  nature  was  not  of  high  order,  still 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    69 

she  was  quick  to  catch  the  enthusiasm  of  others.  Thus 
awakened  and  observing  with  attention,  she  could 
detect  the  saUent  points  in  the  astonishing  panorama 
momentarily  produced  in  the  wake  of  the  rushing 
engine;  so  that  her  soul  was  expanding  to  the  won- 
ders of  the  West,  the  infinite  ocean  of  grass  rippling 
with  wild  flowers,  upon  which  no  eye  save  God's  or 
His  sinless  beasts  had  ever  rested;  nor  had  the  fra- 
grance of  these  regions  ever  ministered  to  man's  pleas- 
ure, yet  who  shall  say  these  things  are  wasted?  Has 
not  the  eternal  Father  set  His  Tabernacle  in  the  sun, 
whence  emanates  all  essence  for  growth  with  its  mani- 
fold requirements,  and  therefore  why  should  Mother 
Earth  fail  to  spread  out  under  this  His  burning  taber- 
nacle, the  richest  of  her  fragrance  and  beauty?  But 
the  train  moves  on,  tiring  enthusiastic  eyes  with  scenic 
profusion,  though  their  reserve  force  must  soon  be 
summoned  for  Wyoming  and  Colorado,  land  of  im- 
penetrable rock-enskied  monsters,  fantastic,  lavish,  con- 
fused, bewildering,  baffling  the  wildest  conception  of 
human  builders,  suggesting  titanic  architects,  scorners 
of  space,  who  columned  to  the  clouds  and  stretched 
their  mighty  architrave  beyond.  No  desecrating  sounds 
break  the  awesome  silence,  no  pontifical  pomp  hallows 
these  vast  cathedrals,  no  garrison  protects  these  im- 
pregnable citadels  of  the  skies — only  awe  holds  sway 
and  sublimity  stirs  to  the  nethermost  the  depths  of 
man's  religious  nature. 

Enthusiasts  in  sight-seeing  were  Mp.  and  Mrs.  T — 
of  Montreal  en  route  for  Australia.  Mr.  T — ,  an  Epis- 
copalian Minister,  was  all  that  could  be  desired  in  an 


70    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

acquaintance  of  the  most  refined  and  manly  type.  The 
same  prudence  and  generosity  characterized  Mrs.  T — . 
Their  graciousness  so  impressed  Sister  Mary  Paul  that 
she  kept  in  her  office  book  pious  leaflets  which  they  had 
given  her  and  which  were  found  there  after  her  death; 
the  fact  arguing  how  prayerfully  she  remembered 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

A  waning  of  things  gigantic  bids  our  travellers 
prepare  for  supper,  which  they  are  to  have  in  Salt 
Lake  City.  Very  soon  the  train  pulls  in  and  a  good 
meal  awaits  them  at  a  fine  hotel,  for  dining  from 
lunch  baskets  makes  a  hot  supper  both  needful  and 
refreshing. 

"Do  you  realize,  Sister  M.  Paul,  that  you  are  sup- 
ping in  Brigham  Young's  stronghold?"  said  Mother  G. 

"I  do,"  was  the  reply,  "and  I  am  thinking  how  the 
dear  Lord  must  hate  polygamy,  since  on  the  trail  of 
the  Albigensian,  He  had  sent  a  Dominic;  on  that  of 
Luther,  an  Ignatius  and  an  Angela;  and  in  Calvin's 
wake,  a  St.  Francis  de  Sales;  while  so  far,  no  Saint's 
fiery  zeal  has  followed  Brigham  Young  whose  machina- 
tions so  threaten  social  order  and  the  dethronement  of 
parental  sanctity.  *I  shall  abandon  them  to  the  fury 
of  their  passions,  I  shall  send  them  dogs  that  will  not 
bite,'  in  other  words,  a  useless  priesthood:  this  was 
God's  extreme  punishment  to  the  Jews  when  their  sinful 
excesses  went  beyond  punishment  by  war  and  pesti- 
lence. In  like  manner,  polygamy  has  even  now  a  dead 
conscience  and  a  consequent  withdrawal  of  God's  grace." 

Leaving  Salt  Lake  City,  the  Sisters  arrived  at 
Truckee,   where   in   the   early   morning  two   clergymen 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    71 

entered  the  car.  The  pleasant  "Welcome,  Ursuline 
Sisters,"  of  Rev.  Father  McNally  was  gratefully  ac- 
knowledged by  Sister  M.  Paul  and  her  sisters.  Then 
the  ascetic-looking  Rev.  J.  M.  Conway  with  growing 
warmth,  shook  the  hands  of  his  future  co-workers, 
and  gave  his  "Cead  Mila  Failthe."  Seeing  a  somewhat 
meager  breakfast  spread  before  the  sisters,  the  priests 
stepped  from  the  car  and  soon  returned  with  speci- 
mens of  California  fruits.  FHght  of  time  was  scarcely 
noticed  in  so  good  and  enthusiastic  a  comipany,  till 
"Oakland"  was  shouted  by  the  brakeman,  and  with  the 
usual  rush  the  overland  train  set  down  the  tired  pas- 
sengers safe  and  sound. 

At  the  service  of  the  sisters  was  a  carriage  for  the 
day,  the  kind  forethought  of  Mrs.  Peter  Donahue ;  but 
the  north  bound  train  to  Santa  Rosa  gave  no  time 
for  driving,  so  with  a  hasty  glance  at  the  Queen  City 
of  the  Pacific,  the  travellers  bade  adieu  to  Rev.  Father 
McNally  and  were  presently  en  route  for  the  City  of 
Roses  wherein  the  first  band  sent  out  from  St.  Martins 
had  already  resided  one  year.  Arriving  at  the  Con- 
vent, the  joy  of  reunion  can  better  be  imagined  than 
described. 


PART  III 


Entrance   to 
Grounds 


CHAPTER  VII. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  1880  that  Reverend  J.  M. 
Conway,  pastor  of  St.  Rose's  church,  Santa  Rosa, 
CaUfornia,  obtained  permission  from  the  venerable 
Archbishop  Alemany  of  San  Francisco  to  invite  the 
UrsuHnes  of  St.  Martins,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  to 
found  a  parish  and  boarding-school.  His  Grace  having 
heartily  acceded  to  the  request  and  the  beautiful  So- 
noma Valley  offering  every  advantage  for  successful 
school- work,  Santa  Rosa  became  the  first  home  for 
Ursulines  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

A  commodious  building,  used  prior  to  the  event  for 
a  Campbellite  College,  with  five  acres  surrounding  it, 
was  offered  for  sale.  Mother  Berchmans  O'Connor,  a 
woman  of  superior  business  attainments,  and  the  young 
and  ardent  Sister  Alphonsus  Costello,  were  sent  to 
make  the  purchase,  should  they  find  it  suitable.  Seeing 
that  all  promised  entire  satisfaction,  they  bought  the 
property,  and  being  invested  with  plenipotentiary  pow- 
ers, they  concurred  with  Reverend  Father  Conway  to 
move  the  parish  church  from  Fifth  Street  to  the  Con- 
vent grounds.  The  land  for  this  purpose  they  donated 
to  the  parish,  thus  safeguarding  in  the  proximity  of 
the  church  the  rule  of  cloister.  The  new  site  being 
more  central,  was  eminently  pleasing  to  the  people  both 
for  services  and  Sunday-school  purposes. 

When  these  negotiations  were  completed,  the  Com- 
munity in  Ohio  was  requested  to  send  at  once  the 
Sisters  intended  for  the  foundation.    The  patronal  feast 


76    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

of  St.  Ursula  was  near,  the  last  which  the  sisters  would 
spend  together.  It  was  a  day  of  mingled  joy  and 
sorrow,  for  as  we  have  said,  the  Ursulines  of  Brown 
County  were  bound  by  ties  of  all  that  was  sisterly  in 
the  tenderest  acceptation  of  the  word. 

At  this  date  there  was  no  indication  that  Sister  M. 
Paul  would  ever  see  the  Golden  West,  and  yet  she  was 
destined  to  bear  its  heats  and  colds,  and  later  to  enjoy 
the  success  there  to  be  achieved.  As  has  been  already 
stated.  Sister  Mary  Paul  was  one  of  the  second  band. 

St.  Ursula's  Feast  being  over,  the  next  day,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1880,  there  started  for  the  West,  Mother  Xavier 
Carolan,  as  Superioress,  with  her  co-laborers  Sisters 
Liguori  Hammer,  Sister  Kostka  Rosecrans,  Sister  Hel- 
ena Hines,  Sister  Michael  Kelly,  two  novices,  Sisters 
Vincent  Dooher  and  Genevieve  Lenehan,  and  Miss 
Anna  Gallagher,  a  postulant. 

Through  conflicting  emotions  of  zeal  for  the  under- 
taken work  and  of  memories  of  the  dearly  loved  home, 
they  arrived  safe  on  October  28th.  Very  Reverend  J.  J. 
Prendergast,  D.  D.,  Vicar-General,  with  General  and  Mrs. 
Rosecrans,  met  the  party  at  Reno  and  received  them 
with  every  mark  of  respect,  esteem,  and  genuine  wel- 
come. Tarrying  a  few  days  in  the  City  of  St.  Francis, 
they  finally,  on  the  vigil  of  All  Saints,  reached  their 
new  home  and  in  a  few  days  were  prepared  to  begin 
work  in  the  Parochial  School. 

Over  a  hundred  eager  faces  were  scanning  the  fu- 
ture teachers,  as  Mother  Xavier  was  making,  what 
might  be  termed,  her  inaugural  address.  The  Reverend 
Pastor's   zeal   urged   him   also   to   make  some   remarks 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    77 

on  the  auspicious  occasion.  Thus  was  the  good  seed 
put  into  the  ground,  whose  later  sprouting  and  grow- 
ing gave  promise  of  a  rich  harvest;  such  the  school 
and  community  that  welcomed  Sister  Mary  Paul  and 
her    four   companions  the   following  year. 

We  are  too  close  to  experiences  to  detail  them  in 
their  true  light,  but  a  future  pen,  no  doubt,  will  do 
justice  to  this  Santa  Rosa  Ursuline  Foundation  theme. 
Suffice  it  now  to  quote  a  letter  from  Sister  Liguori  to 
Mother  Theresa,  which  will  speak  in  the  sense : 

"  'Ab  uno,  disce  omnes.' 
"Santa  Rosa,  Cal.,  November  14,  1880. 
"My  very  dear  Mother: 

"Your  kind  sweet  letters  were  duly  received,  and  it 
is  really  a  shame  to  keep  you  waiting  so  long.  But  it 
was  an  utter  impossibiUty  for  me  to  write  sooner.  We 
had  so  much  house-cleaning,  scrubbing,  and  the  Uke  to 
do.  Of  course,  I  as  senior  member  of  the  Community, 
pitched  in  with  heroic  enthusiasm !  My  skill  in  the  art 
of  scrubbing  was  highly  admired  by  the  dear  kind 
novices,  and  they  are  truly  generous  and  noble ;  but  it 
would  have  been  far  more  advisable  for  me  to  have 
taken  a  few  practical  sweeping  and  scrubbing  lessons 
before  my  departure  to  the  scene  of  action,  than  to 
have  learned  gold-work     .     .     . 

"The  house  was  in  a  frightful  state  of  disorder,  and 
even  now  it  is  not  much  better,  although  we  are  doing 
our  best  to  introduce  order. 

"Last  Monday,  November  8th,  we  opened  our 
schools;  namely,  Select  School  for  Girls,  Parish  School 


78    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

for  Girls,  and  Parish  School  for  Boys.  I  shall  help  the 
younger  sisters  in  their  appointments  to  the  best  of  my 
abilities. 

"The  cHmate  is  mild  and  beautiful,  but  the  mornings 
and  evenings  are  cold.  The  stars  are  magnificent, 
owing  to  the  clearness  of  the  atmosphere.  I  enjoyed 
the  trip  very  much.  The  majestic,  awe-inspiring  scen- 
ery of  the  Rocky  Mountains  was  a  source  of  infinite 
pleasure.  Every  faculty  of  mind  and  soul  was  deluged 
with  intense  delight.  If  I  only  had  had  time  to  study 
these  rocky  tablets  of  prehistoric  ages  more  at  leisure! 
How  wonderful  are  the  works  of  creation ! 

"I  was  perfectly  well  during  the  journey,  and  I  did 
not  suffer  from  cold  hands  or  feet.  But  all  my  tribu- 
lations began  at  San  Francisco.  I  must  postpone  this 
chapter  of  woes  to  some  future  period.  I  am  still 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  scrubbing  and  window- 
washing.  The  dust  is  'perfectly  awful'  and  the  flies 
are  of  gigantic  size  and  exceedingly  impudent.  They 
have  not  the  slightest  regard  for  'Her  German  High- 
ness.' 

"Dear  Mother,  please  tell  Sister  Josephine  that  it 
is  impossible  to  write  her  just  now,  but  I  hope  I 
shall  soon  be  able  to  keep  my  promise.  I  delivered 
her  message  to  Rev.  Father  Conway.  He  seemed 
much  pleased  when  I  told  him  how  zealously  dear 
Mother  Josephine  had  worked  for  the  California  foun- 
dation, and  he  said  that  he  would  write  her.  Viewing 
matters  from  my  standpoint,  I  think  dear  Sister  Jose- 
phine has  reasons  to  thank  God  that  she  is  still  in  dear 
Brown    County.      Our    present    mode    of    life    would 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    79 

scarcely  suit  her.  Since  November  2nd,  I  have  not 
spoken  to  Rev.  Father  Conway  except  in  the  Confes- 
sional, rather  behind  an  old  table  where  we  kneel  to 
make  our  confessions.  At  some  future  period,  I  hope 
to  be  able  to  write  a  more  detailed  account  of  my 
experiences  in  California,  and  I  think  Robinson  Crusoe 
will  be  totally  eclipsed.  My  hands  are  truly  in  a  pitiful 
condition,  and  the  prospect  for  their  immediate  future 
is  darker  still.  Until  the  present,  dear  Mother  Berch- 
mans  took  charge  of  the  wood-pile,  but  I  think  that 
interesting  duty  is  to  devolve  upon  me.  My  personal 
appearance  resembles  dear  Sister  Martina  when  she  is 
cleaning  the  furnaces.  Such  transcendental  miseries  are 
more  than  a  psychological  enigma  to  my  aesthetical 
nature.  Oh,  if  I  could  only  keep  clean!  Oceans  of 
dust  everywhere!  I  have  so  much  work;  and  we  are 
so  very  poor  that  I  think  Mother  Xavier  will  scruple  a 
stamp:  therefore,  I  thank  each  dear  sister  not  only 
individually  but  also  from  force  of  circumstances  col- 
lectively, for  the  manifold  acts  of  kindness  and  sisterly 
affection  of  which  on  their  part  I  have  been  recipient. 
Tell  Sister  Ambrose  that  I  am  still  using  one  of  her 
little  tin  cups  as  a  goblet  and  tooth  mug,  but  have 
hopes  that  after  Mother  Berchmans'  departure  I  shall 
get  her  jelly-glass,  though  somewhat  defective. 

"Say  to  dear  Mother  Assistant  that  I  shall  consider 
it  one  of  my  duties  to  keep  her  posted  in  regard  to 
the   statistics  of  the  school. 

"I  think  that  the  California  climate  will  suit  my  con- 
stitution, but  I  can  not  say  the  same  for  my  present 
mode  of  life.     Supernaturally  speaking,  however,  I  am 


8o    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

full  of  peace,  joy,  consolation,  and  hope,  and  God  is 
certainly  propitious  toward  me.     I   recommend  myself 
to  public  and  private  prayers. 
**With  love,  I  remain 

''Your   devoted   sister, 

"Sister  Liguori." 

This  most  noble  woman  afterwards  returned  to 
Brown  County.  She  passed  to  her  reward  February 
27,  1916.  The  following  clipping  from  the  Catholic 
''Telegraph"  will  doubtless  be  all  that  those  outside 
convent  precincts  will  know  concerning  her  most  useful 
life,  her  unusual  gifts  of  mind,  and  her  simple  child- 
like virtues,  for  earth's  greatest  have  in  them  a  sort 
of  perennial  childhood.     The  clipping  reads  as  follows: 

"Deep  grief  afflicted  the  UrsuUne  Community,  Mc- 
Millan Street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  when  death  came  to 
Sister  Mary  Liguori  Hammer  on  Sunday  after  a  brief 
illness.  Sister  Liguori,  who  is  a  sister  of  Rev.  Bona- 
venture  Hammer,  O.  F.  M.,  of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  well 
known  in  Cincinnati,  had  been  the  teacher  of  philosophy 
at  the  Cincinnati  Academy,  and  her  beautiful  life  en- 
deared her  not  only  to  her  sisters  in  religion  but  also 
to  the  many  friends  she  made  during  her  residence  in 
this  city.  She  was  a  woman  of  deep  learning,  a  zeal- 
ous worker,  and  a  devout  nun.  The  influence  of  her 
estimable  character  and  the  effect  of  her  scholarly 
teachings  have  left  their  impress  upon  hundreds  of 
pupils  who  passed  from  under  her  charge. 

"Sister  Liguori  was  a  native  of  Karlsruhe,  Germany, 
and  was  in  her  eightieth  year  when  death  overtook  her. 
She  came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  twelve  in  1861, 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    8i 

imbued  with  religious  fervor,  and  dedicated  her  services 
to  the  cause  of  reUgion.  The  greater  part  of  her  rehg- 
ous  life  was  spent  at  the  Brown  County  Academy, 
where  she  taught  until  she  took  up  her  position  of 
teacher  of  philosophy  in  the  Ursuline  Cincinnati  Acad- 
emy. The  loss  of  so  learned  and  so  efficient  a  teacher 
will  be  greatly  felt  by  the  local  community,  and  her 
demise  will  be  sincerely  mourned  by  the  alumnae  of 
the  academy  of  whom  she  had  made  fast  friends. 

''The  funeral  Mass  was  sung  on  Tuesday  morning 
by  Rev.  A.  C.  Adelman.  Rev.  Antonine  Brockhuis, 
O.  F.  M.,  pastor  of  St.  George's  Church,  preached 
the  sermon,  lauding  the  beautiful  religious  character 
and  sterling  qualities  that  shone  forth  in  the  life  of 
the  deceased.     R.  I.  P." 

Although  Mother  Liguori's  pen  gives  a  humorous 
turn  to  the  privations  endured  by  the  Ursuline  pioneers 
of  Santa  Rosa,  nevertheless,  they  were  privations  which 
were  sternly  felt;  but  in  the  sweet  serene  nuns  that 
moved  amongst  the  pupils,  no  trace  of  meager  living 
could  be  detected;  for  was  not  one  aware  that  her 
Heavenly  Father  knew  that  she  "had  need  of  all  these 
things"?  and  little  by  little  the  fiber  of  those  who 
endured,  became  so  well  seasoned  that  it  firmly  with- 
stood all  shock  of  passing  discomfort.  Daily  they  were 
climbing  Sinais,  but  too  humble  to  know  it.  Their 
souls  heard  only  the  Voice  uttering  the  saving  Ten 
Commandments  and  the  call  to  perfection;  and  they 
thought  only  of  rehearsing  the  same  tenets  to  the 
dwellers  on  the  plains,  lest  the  golden  calf  of  human 
passion  should  find  worshipers  there. 


82    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Another  cause  of  anxiety  in  those  days  was  the  ap- 
proaching elections.  Among  trying  experiences  of  com- 
munity Ufe  is  the  change  of  the  officials.  Periods  of 
three  or  six  years  find  convents  under  a  new  regime, 
and  a  Superioress  whose  natural  and  religious  character 
has  won  the  affection  and  esteem  of  all,  must,  when 
her  term  of  office  expires,  give  place  to  the  newly 
elected  whose  ruling  qualities  are  a  terra  incognita  to 
those  over  whom  she  is  to  be  placed.  Nevertheless, 
each  incoming  Superioress  leaving  her  impress  on  her 
period  of  government,  sameness  is  prevented.  It  is 
noteworthy  also  that  Superiors  of  convents  are  prover- 
bial for  their  business  abilities;  while  the  economy 
which  the  vow  of  poverty  enforces,  helps  their  achieve- 
ments. "It  is  a  mystery  to  me,"  said  a  University 
Professor  to  the  writer,  "how  Convent  folk  are  able 
to  erect  such  fine  buildings  on  incomes  so  slender." 
Alas!  little  is  known  of  the  sacrifices  that  uprear  these 
structures;  but  the  history  of  various  monastic  insti- 
tutions demonstrates  that  strong  faith  coupled  with 
splendid  idealism  and  hard  work  have  accompHshed 
wonders  in  religious  houses.  How  many  valiant 
servants  of  God  have  started  work  with  a  capital  of 
five  dollars,  or  even  less ;  yea  God's  Providence  has 
been  the  sole  capital  of  some  who  are  now  succoring 
thousands  in  comfortable  dwellings,  while  God,  their 
unfailing  banker,  prevents  bankruptcy. 

Thus  these  heaven-sent  religious  Superiors  watch 
over  the  economics  of  their  miniature  republics  and 
prove,  if  outsiders  care  to  study  monastic  sociology, 
that  the  best  government  is  one  which  is  not  felt ;  that 


Entrance    to 

Class    Rooms 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    83 

4:he  best  government  produces  the  happiest  people  and 
the  highest  types  of  the  race.  Could  these  conditions 
be  realized  in  even  one  commonwealth,  gubernatorial 
skill  would  reach  its  height  and  would  possess  the 
secret  of  human  contentment  in  ideal  ruling. 

In  the  Santa  Rosa  foundation,  vicissitudes  of  vary- 
ing kinds  form  some  of  its  early  history.  The  number 
of  boarders  was  two  from  Tiburon,  aged  respect- 
ively nine  and  seven.  The  revenue  for  the  house  ex- 
penses must  come  through  the  boarding-school,  and  in 
default  of  this  the  work  cannot  progress.  To  leave 
nothing  undone  that  could  make  the  new  foundation 
a  success,  the  staff  of  teachers  sent  to  California  were 
women  of  extraordinary  learning  and  accomplishments, 
determined  moreover  to  make  their  western  home  as 
famous  as  their  eastern  one;  but  alas!  the  forty  board- 
ers promised  in  good  faith  before  the  sisters  left 
Brown  County  were  represented  by  two,  as  already 
stated.  Bravely,  however,  the  sisters  struggled  on. 
Seeing  no  prospect  of  increase,  the  older  sisters  were 
recalled,  and  of  the  younger,  seven  were  allowed  to 
remain  with  the  parochial  school.  Among  the  seven 
was  Sister  Mary  Paul,  who  found  ample  opportunities 
to  practice  her  many  virtues  even  to  the  third  degree. 
Her  uniform  cheerfulness  buoyed  up  the  others,  who 
were  somewhat  discouraged  under  the  slow  movements 
of  success;  while  her  redoubled  fervor  secured  many 
graces  and  blessings  for  the  devoted  seven  who  had 
remained,  and  who  notwithstanding  their  difficulties 
were  doing  splendid  work  among  the  children  of  St. 
Rose's  parish ;  besides,  Rev.  Father  Conway,  perceiving 


84    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

in  the  band,  material  that  bespoke  latent  power  for  all 
that  was  worth  while,  encouraged  them  to  stand 
bravely  to  the  work  of  his  parish,  a  work  which  he  said 
was  already  progressing  beyond  his  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations.    His  utmost  co-operation  was  with  them. 

The  next  year  brought  so  many  children  that  every 
available  place  was  filled;  and  Mother  Alphonse,  who 
was  the  newly-elected  Superioress,  announced  that  pray- 
ers for  boarders  should  cease  till  greater  accommoda- 
tions were  erected. 

Success  delayed  no  longer  but  came  with  rapid 
strides.  Sister  Mary  Paul  was  appointed  Mistress  of  the 
Young  Ladies,  an  office  which  she  filled  with  results 
that  came  from  the  love  she  bore  her  dear  children ; 
and  beautifully  trusting  were  the  veneration  and  affec- 
tion which  she  received  in  return.  "Thou  shalt  love 
thy  neighbor  as  thy  self,"  was  her  basic  principle  in 
working  among  children;  and  who  show  more  readily 
than  they  that  love  begets  love? 

At  this  time  Sister  Mary  Paul's  teaching  was  divided 
between  the  boarding  and  parochial  school,  so  that  her 
influence  extended  to  a  great  number  of  children. 
Besides,  she  had  charge  of  the  First  Communion  class 
of  each  succeeding  year  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
her  love  for  such  labor  knew  no  bounds.  So  devoted 
was  she  in  these  "holy  classes,"  as  she  called  them, 
that  she  had  charge  of  them  till  her  death. 

Often  after  a  most  fatiguing  day,  would  she  devote 
her  little  free  time  in  teaching  only  one  child,  whose 
duties  would  not  permit  him  or  her  to  come  at  the 
usual  instruction  hour.     To  persons  living  in  the  coun- 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    85 

try  and  places  remote  from  religious  influence  and  les- 
sons, she  devoted  much  of  her  Sundays.  To-day  there 
are  scattered  over  CaUfornia  and  elsewhere  men  and 
women  who  are  exemplary  fathers  and  mothers,  be- 
cause Sister  Mary  Paul  labored  amongst  them,  loved 
them  in  Christ,  and  forgot  herself  for  them. 

"If  I  am  tempted  to  stay  away  from  Mass  on  Sun- 
day," said  one  of  these  young  men,  ''Sister  Mary  Paul 
is  almost  palpably  present  to  me,  urging  me  to  go ; 
should  I  resist,  I  feel  as  if  something  of  evil  were 
about  to  happen  to  me." 

Letters  from  her  kept  the  careless  from  slipping 
backwards,  and  lifted  the  careful  to  higher  planes  of 
sanctity. 

She  was  always  eager  to  examine  her  classes  in 
presence  of  the  Reverend  Pastor,  and  great  was  her 
exultation  when  she  saw  the  many  blushes  and  rejoic- 
ings consequent  on  his  high  commendations,  uttered  in 
approving  voice  and  generally  accompanied  by  the  pat- 
ting of  such  heads  as  carried  the  best  load  of  knowl- 
edge. 

"Don't  you  think  you  have  too  much  complacency 
in  your  school  work?"  inquired  the  Mother  Superior 
as  she  listened  to  Sister  Mary  Paul's  glowing  descrip- 
tion of  her  examinees'  cleverness. 

Her  characteristic   answer  was: 

"Dear  Mother,  is  not  humility  truth,  and  does  not 
truth  make  us  free  to  rejoice  at  our  personal  success 
as  well  as  to  mourn  at  our  failure?  Teaching  is  so 
inspiring  an  occupation  that  I  begin  to  suspect  myself 
born   to,    rather   than   made    for   it;    so,    dear   Mother, 


86    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

you  see  I  have  a  holy  complacency  in  examination 
results." 

*'Be  sure  that  it  is  'holy/ "  warned  the  vigilant 
Mother  Superioress. 

Meanwhile,  the  ranks  broken  by  the  departure  of 
the  older  nuns,  were  filled  by  efficient  subjects,  so  that 
school  work  was  accompUshed  successfully  not  only 
in  Sister  Mary  Paul's  department,  but  also  in  all  the 
others.  Music  was  taught  in  grades  and  its  excellency 
was  demonstrated  at  each  recurring  Commencement. 
Stringed  playing  received  great  attention  and  nothing 
escaped  the  musical  vigilance  of  Sister  Kostka  Rose- 
crans,  who  directed  the  Academy  and  particularly  the 
department  of  music.  Consummate  musician  that  she 
was,  and  we  must  not  wonder  how  she  was  regarded 
by  Sister  Mary  Paul,  who  again  had  complacency  in 
knowing  that  such  glorious  talents  were  returned  to 
God  with  the  required  gospel  interest. 

When  persons  of  unusual  talent  were  brought  to  her 
notice,  she  had  often  to  commiserate  the  fact  that  they 
were  not  using  at  least  some  of  their  power  for  God, 
for  she  was  wont  to  say,  "These  gifts  are  too  great 
for  worldly  affairs."  One  evening,  Karl  Formes,  the 
great  basso,  sang  Benediction,  and  what  a  Benediction 
it  was !  It  was  to  sound  what  a  rich  sunrise  is  to 
color.  How  he  blended  the  salutatory  grandeur  of 
the  "Salve  Regina"  into  the  moans  of  the  "Gementes 
et  flentes  in  hac  lacrymarum  valle" !  Then  the  glorious 
Laudate  at  the  end  of  Benediction  made  the  congre- 
gation think  that  their  feet  were  standing  in  the  new 
Jerusalem  and  that  some  seraphic  being  was  praising 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    87 

God  in  a  befitting  manner.  On  this  occasion,  Sister  Mary 
Paul  expressed  her  feeUng  by  saying,  "Contentment 
filled  my  whole  being,  when  I  heard  that  wonderful 
voice  put  to  the  highest  use,  and  God  was  given  praises 
so  artistically   rendered." 

The  idea  of  dedicating  to  God  and  our  Blessed 
Mother  whatever  was  stamped  with  highest  excellence 
was  to  her  a  matter  of  duty;  for  instance,  one  day,  at 
the  recreation  hour,  the  picture  of  a  beautiful  novice 
was  passed  round  among  the  senior  students,  one  of 
whom  remarked,  "Miss  is  too  pretty  to  bury  her- 
self in  a  convent.  She  should  have  remained  in  the 
world,  where  her  beauty  and  talents  would  show  to 
advantage." 

"Is  she  too  pretty  for  God?"  asked  Sister  Mary  Paul 
with  unwonted  asperity.  Then  with  Samuel-like  zeal 
she  administered  a  rebuke  sharp  and  stern  to  the  of- 
fending young  girl  who  would  dare  to  defraud  our 
"Sweet  Lord"  of  the  fairest  from  His  flock. 

Sister  M.  Paul  was  enemy  to  all  affectation  and 
insincerity  among  children.  It  mattered  not  how  dis- 
agreeable the  task  of  correcting  might  be,  she  applied 
herself  to  it  with  unceasing  energy.  These  vices,  ap- 
parently trifles  light  as  air,  seemed  to  her  more  deadly 
to  the  soul  than  poison  is  to  the  body.  How  kindly 
arid  vigorously  did  she  help  the  victims  of  these  inborn 
vices  to  cultivate  the  opposite  virtues !  How  skilfully, 
too,  did  she  settle  differences !  How  she  would  lead 
children  to  examine  the  part  that  their  likes  and  dis- 
likes played  in  quarrels,  and  to  turn  their  eyes  upon 
the  inner  man  always  self-indulgent,  so  that  becoming 


88     Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

self- judges  they  might  be  able  to  pronounce  their  own 
condemnation  and  do  penance ! 

Often  she  would  direct  a  pupil's  attention  as  to 
how  men  and  things  combine  to  become  God's  aveng- 
ers upon  breakers  of  the  Ten  Commandments.  To  the 
sinful,  inanimate  nature  refuses  its  charm;  the  neighbor 
refuses  the  lovely  side  of  his  character;  and  some- 
times sinners  themselves  commit  suicide,  because  they 
loathe  the  sight  of  their  own  hideousness.  She  be- 
lieved that  salt  duly  boiled  with  food  made  it  better 
than  if  mixed  when  cooked,  so  did  she  mix  spir- 
itual learning  with  secular,  thereby  seeking  to  produce 
a  finer  specimen  of  Christian;  hence,  when  feasible,  she 
led  her  pupils  to  the  correlation  of  secular  studies  with 
religious.  For  instance,  to  a  class  pursuing  geological 
periods,  she  would  suggest  a  study  of  the  Canticle  of 
the  Three  Children  in  the  Fiery  Furnace,  so  that  the 
class  might  note  in  what  order  inanimate  nature  was 
called  upon  to  bless  the  Lord,  how  this  order  corre- 
sponded to  the  geological  periods  and  completed  the 
first  climax  of  the  sublime  song.  In  like  manner,  the 
second  climax  invited  animate  nature  to  bless  the 
Lord,  and  here  was  to  be  compared  the  chronological 
order  of  each  creation  with  correlation  in  the  secular 
text.  This  second  climax  reaches  its  highest  when  the 
sons  of  men  are  invited  to  bless  the  Lord.  The  third 
is  a  climax  of  sanctities,  beginning  with  Israel,  the 
highest  types  from  the  sons  of  men ;  next  the  sacerdotal 
order  which  connects  these  with  the  spirits  and  souls 
of  the  just;  finally,  reaching  its  last  round  when  the 
sublime  trio  walking  unhurt  through  the  raging  flames 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    89 

invite  one  another  to  bless  the  Lord  forever.  Nebu- 
chodonosor,  seeing  the  angel  and  hearing  the  heavenly 
quartette,  utters  his  mandate  of  mercy.  This  twofold 
presentation  takes  us  outside  geological  and  secular 
realms  and  affords  entertainment,  spiritual,  moral,  and 
sublime. 

The  community  had  now  grown  to  fifteen  members 
and  prosperity  was  increasing  year  by  year. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  a  very  bright  little  paper, 
called  the  "College  Spy,"  was  first  written.  Each  issue 
was  looked  for  with  keen  deUght  by  the  fun-loving 
students,  and  even  the  Reverend  Pastor  and  the  faculty 
did  not  think  to  jeopardize  their  dignity  by  their  pleas- 
urable anticipations.  To  the  novices  and  rhetoric 
students,  who  evinced  the  smallest  hope  of  the  "poet's 
eye  in  a  fine  frenzy  rolling,"  was  allotted  the  writing 
of  poems,  one  of  which  we  subjoin,  because  being 
couched  in  allegorical  form  on  the  number  and  charac- 
ter of  the  fifteen  foundation  nuns  and  meeting  the 
exactions  of  competition,  it  received  from  the  Supe- 
rioress the  prize  of  "One  Dollar!" 

FOUNDATION    STONES. 

A  Builder  would  rear  a  mansion 

To  last  forever  I  ween — 
Selected  from  far  away  quarries. 

Some  rocks,  exactly  fifteen. 

With  care  and  toil  He  brought  them. 

O'er  ocean  and  prairies  vast, 
Until  in  the  land  of  the  Sunset, 

He  laid  His  stones  at  last. 


90    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

To   His  men   He  gave  directions 
To  fashion  these  stones  with  care; 

For  they  should  be  foundations  ^ 

Of  a  wondrous  mansion,  rare. 

Nor  chisel,  nor  hammer  were  spared, 
On  these  obdurate  rocks  fifteen. 

Till  they  were  fashioned  and  shaped, 
For  that  Architect's  eye  so  keen. 

"Now  raise,"  said  the  Master-builder, 
"On  these  well-cut  stones  fifteen. 

Such  a  firm  and  beauteous  palace. 
As  never  before  was  seen." 

• 
"And  further,"  continued  the  Builder, 

"My  palace  must  stand  alway; 
Nor  storm,  nor  rain  can  harm  it. 
For  its  base  is  strong,  I  say." 

Thus  that  edifice  fair  is  rising: 

Shall  it  last  forever,  O  say? 
It  will,  if  the  hammer  and  chisel 

On  the  younger  rocks  will  play. 

And  then  the  Master-builder 

With  approving  Face  serene, 
Will  gaze   on   His   castle  splendid, 

That  stands  on   His  rocks  fifteen. 

The  v^inner  of  the  dollar  being  a  novice,  v^as  told 
to  use  the  money  for  anything  she  wished;  hence,  great 
was  the  consultation  as  to  its  most  profitable  invest- 
ment. Far-seeing  financiers  suggested  that  the  dollar 
be  deposited  with  the  Mother  Superior  at  ten  per  cent. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    91 

interest:  counselors  with  pious  intent  insisted  that  it 
should  secure  a  Mass  for  the  dead;  while  a  third 
party  unabashed  by  its  epicurean  propensities  was  loud 
in  favor  of  a  feast,  and  strange  to  say,  this  greedy  con- 
tingent prevailed:  but  before  the  participants  sat  down 
to  the  banquet,  they  had  incurred  so  large  a  debt  that 
many  prize  poems  were  discussed  to  cover  the  liabilities. 
Such  competitive  and  remunerative  devices  for  improve- 
ment stole  away  much  literary  hardships  and  bestowed 
the  joys  of  successful  work.  Sister  Mary  Paul  lent  her- 
self with  zest  to  these  plans,  and  many  a  student  owes 
a  lucrative  position  to  the  department  of  humanities 
which,  developing  her  latent  talent,  snatched  her  from 
among  those  who  go  down  to  their  graves  unsus- 
pected monuments  of  hidden  greatness. 

Another  later  poem  which  received  Sister  Mary 
Paul's  commendation  was  a  parody  on  Poe's  "Raven." 

With  admirable  coolness,  Sister  M.  Paul  kept  in 
check  what  threatened  to  be  a  severe  panic  among  the 
young  ladies  caused  by  a  stray  member  from  the  Native 
Sons'  celebration  of  September  9th,  one  Admission  Day. 

The  heat  and  fatigue  of  the  day  urged  an  unruly 
party  to  forget  his  discomfort  in  renewed  acquaintance 
with  Bacchus;  then,  in  some  way  he  stumbled  to  the 
door  of  the  Convent.  Mistaking  the  building  for  the 
hotel,  he  tugged  violently  to  enter.  His  efforts  awak- 
ened the  children  and  a  counterpart  to  Rosenthal's 
^'Seminary  Alarmed"  followed.  Sister  Mary  Paul,  who, 
w^ith  the  frightened  boarders,  occupied  the  dormitory, 
telephoned  to  the  priest's  house  for  help. 


92    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 
The  stirring  event  is   detailed  as   follows: 

A    MIDNIGHT   INCIDENT. 

(With  apologies  to  E.  A.  Poe.) 

1. 

Once   upon   a   midnight  dreary, 
While  we  slumbered  tired  and  weary, 
Over  books  hid  'neath  our  pillow, 
Books   quite  full  of  courting  lore — 
Did  we  sleep,  or  were  we  napping, 
When   there   came   that   sudden   rapping, 
As   of  some   one   roughly  knocking — 
Rapping  at  the  Convent  door. 
*"Tis   a   thief,"  we   said,   "entreating 
Entrance  at  our  postern  door — 
Only  this  and  nothing  more!" 

2. 

And   the  gingham — sad,   uncertain   rustle 

Of  each  gingham  curtain. 

Filled  us,  thrilled  us,  with  fantastic  terror 

Never  felt  before; 

And    each   shivering,    crying   maiden. 

Who  from  sorrow  overladen, 

Tried  to  keep  her  heart  from  beating. 

So  kept,  off  and  on,  repeating, 

"  'Tis   a   Native   Son   entreating 

Entrance  at  our  Convent  door, — 

Only   this   and   nothing  more!" 

3. 

Presently  our  souls  grew  stronger; 
Mother  Paul  could  wait  no  longer, 
And  in    telephonic  language 
Wired  across  two  words  or  more — 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    93 

"Come,  O  quick,  good  Father  Cassin, 
Your   swift   presence   we    implore — 
For  the  fact  is,  we  were  napping, 
And   a   burglar   came   a-tapping, 
Rapping  at  our   Convent  door; 
Girls   are   making  noise   galore — " 
Quoth  the  priest,  "Pray,  say  no  more!" 


4. 


Right  upon  his  elbow  turning. 
Angry   thoughts   within   him  burning. 
Father  heard  again  the  message 
More   distressing  than  before; 
Lightning  speed  was  in  his  moving 
And   his  pistols   he  looked  o'er — 
"I'll  go   too,"   said   good   Miss   Cassin; 
Pale   she   stood   upon   the   floor. 
But   her  brother   scarcely   heard   her; 
Fierce  he  shot  through  open  door — 
Then   he   shouted   "Nevermore!" 


5. 


Deep   into    the    darkness    peering, 

Poor    Miss    Cassin,    praying,    fearing. 

Dreaming  dreams,  no  mortal 

Dared   to   dream   before; 

Ghastly  grim  she  thought  her  brother 

Flying  through  his  chamber  door. 

"Not  the  least  obeisance  made   he. 

Not  a  minute  stopped  or  stayed  he," 

Said   Miss  Cassin  in  narrating 

All  the  woes  that  night  she  bore — 

These  she  told  to  Leonore. 


94    Li^e  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

6. 

Not  a  word  her  brother  uttered, 
Not  a  nerve  within  him  fluttered; 
Not  the  winds   could  beat  him  flying 
Through   that  gloomy  night  of  yore, 
Running   fast  and  running   faster 
Till   he  reached   the    Convent   door, 
Till  he  clutched  the  wretch  a  lying 
'  With  the  lamp  light  gloating  o'er — 
And  the  dust  of  Day's  carousal 
Was  upon   the   coat  he  wore: 
Only   this   and   nothing  more. 

7. 

Now  the  girls  in  great  alarm 
Fearing  much  some  untold  harm. 
Muttered   orisons   that   angels 
Never  heard  from  lips  before. 
Father   Cassin   found   them   praying 
And   this  fact    (the   girls  were   saying) 
Urged  him  quickly  to  the  danger, 
Made  his  wrath  to  quick  outpour: 
"Wretch,"  he  said,  "how  cam'st  thou  hither? 
Fly  I  say  from  Convent  door." 
"Reverence,"  quoth  the  wretch,  "No  more!" 

8. 

Miss    Mahoney   near   the   casement,  ^ 

Heard  this  parley  at  the  basement, 

And   her  prayers   to   saint   or   angel. 

Little   relevancy  bore. 

"Art  thou  Jew  or  French,"  said  Father, 

"That   thou   venturest   near   this   door, 

Or  hath  all  the  demons  fired  thee 

From  the  dark  Plutonian  shore?" 

Not  a  syllable  expressed  he, 

Till  he  said,  "You're  right,  asthore!" 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    95 


"Native  Son,"  said  Father  Cassin, 
"Your  vague  answer  I  deplore; 
Tell  me  quick,  hath  Pluto  fired  thee, 
Up  against  this  Convent  door? 
For  I  cannot  help  agreeing 
That  no   other  living  being, 
Would  so  disrespect  these  precincts 
As   to   hurl   thee   near   this   door; 
And    thy   beard   unshorn,   unshaven — " 
"Hold!  your  Reverence,  I'm  no  craven- 
Wine  hath  fired  me — nothing  more!" 

10. 

Father   Cassin   at   the   basement 
Saw  the  maidens  at  the  casement; 
Stern   contempt  was   in  his   aspect, 
As  their  hands  he  did  explore. 
Water  was   in   every  basin 
To  let  show'r  on  that  Free  Mason 
Should  he  gain  the  Convent  door — 
Should  he  dare  to  take  Lenore. 
Angry,  awful  words  suppressed  he, 
Fisting  Native  Son  repressed  he, 
When  he  saw  the  basins  pour. 
"Xanthippe!  ye  Xanthippes!" 
Was  the  priest's  indignant  roar — 
Then   led  the  man  from  Convent  door. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Oppressed  by  failing  health  Rev.  J.  M.  Conway  was 
obliged  to  leave  Santa  Rosa ;  and,  after  severe  mental 
and  physical  suffering,  he  finally  passed  to  his  reward. 
His  remains  were  laid  to  rest  among  his  first  parish- 
ioners in  London,  Ohio. 

His  place  was  filled  by  the  Reverend  John  M. 
Cassin,  in  whom  Sister  Mary  Paul  experienced  God's 
unspeakable  providence ;  for  no  priest  could  render  more 
devoted  attention  to  a  community  than  he;  and  for 
nearly  three  decades  of  years,  his  untiring  work  has 
helped  largely  to  make  the  Ursuline  College  what  it  is. 
In  point  of  time,  we  are  too  near  this  man  of  God,  to 
portray  his  manly  and  holy  character:  and,  moreover, 
his  deep  humiHty  would  be  wounded  thereby;  suffice 
it  to  say  that  a  more  devoted  friend  has  seldom  been 
given  to  a  community  than  was  given  to  the  Ursulines 
of  Santa  Rosa  in  the  person  of  Reverend  John  M. 
Cassin. 

To  Sister  Mary  Paul  he  was  guide  when  too  great 
zeal  urged  her  to  undertake  that  which  could  not  be 
done  well;  he  was  her  solace,  when  her  work  failing 
to  bring  the  results  she  sought,  threatened  discourage- 
ment. However,  her  nature  would  not  allow  her  to 
linger  in  the  miasma  of  dejection,  for  she  was  par  ex- 
cellence an  optimist,  and  she  often  quoted  Words^worth's 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    97 

optimistic  quatrain  which  truly  expresses  her  sentiments 
regarding  neighborly  intercourse: 

"I've   heard   of   hearts  unkind,   kind   deeds 
With   coldness   still   returning; 
Alas!   the   gratitude  of  men 
Hath    oftener   left   me   mourning." 

This  gratitude  from  others  came  to  Sister  Mary  Paul, 
because  her  own  guileless  soul  rarely  saw  in  them 
aught  but  good,  and  she  had  a  way  all  her  own  that 
brought  to  the  surface  the  virtues  that  she  saw  in 
others,  and  which  the  owners  themselves  did  not  dream 
that  they  possessed. 

The  vacation  beginning  June,  1889,  found  Mother 
Alphonse  Costello  quite  ill.  Her  constitution,  never 
robust,  gave  little  hope  of  recovery.  On  June  16th, 
Trinity  Sunday  of  that  year,  this  saintly  religious 
passed  from  Ufe's  stem  conflict  in  the  Church  Militant 
to  her  well  earned  reward  in  the  Church  Triumphant, 
leaving  her  devoted  Community  to  mourn  their  great 
loss. 

For  over  thirty  years,  her  little  tombstone  stood 
solitary  in  God's  Acre,  seeming  to  forbid  companion- 
ship till  at  least  some  of  the  work  she  so  ardently  com- 
menced was  accomplished.  It  was  the  subject  of  this 
biography  that  broke  the  barrier  of  solitude  and  lay 
down  to  rest  beside  this  valiant  woman,  this  much  re- 
vered Superioress,  whose  desire  to  see  great  things 
done  for  her  beloved  Santa  Rosa  was,  perhaps,  the  rea- 
son why  our  dear  Lord  kept  a  phenomenal  record  of 
good  health  among  the  sisters  whom  she  loved  so  well. 


98    Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Perhaps  also,  nuns  so  strongly  constituted  withstood 
the  ravages  of  time  and  the  pressure  of  labor.  This, 
together  with  a  most  salubrious  climate  and  rooms 
flooded  with  beneficent  sunshine,  was  a  natural  reason 
for  soundness  of  body  and  mind.  This  blessed  gift 
Sister  Mary  Paul,  en  joyed  to  its  fullest,  and  truly  had 
she  need  of  it;  for  little  leisure  to  nurse  ailments  is 
left  to  her  who  sees  so  much  to  be  done  in  God's  serv- 
ice with  one's  span  of  years  so  short  at  most. 

Nothing  more  clearly  illustrates  the  strength  and 
beauty  of  our  nature  so  much  as  does  friendship, 
which  brings  forth  our  most  charming  manifestations, 
especially  those  of  generosity  and  heroism.  Surely  we 
climb  to  heaven  on  the  rounds  of  love,  for  the  greater 
our  charity  towards  our  fellow  creatures  in  general, 
the  greater  our  love  for  the  individuals  whom  we  select 
from  among  them  for  the  sacred  intimacies  of  our 
inner  selves.  Pinnacled  above  all  lesser  friendships 
tower  three  groups  of  exemplars.  The  pagan  group 
presents  Damon  and  Pythias,  noble  Syracusans,  stand- 
ing on  the  scaffold  vying  with  each  other  as  to  which 
shall  secure  the  privilege  of  dying  for  the  other.  The 
strength  of  their  love  is  shown  in  their  extraordinary 
desire  to  suffer  for  each  other,  while  their  speech 
arouses  the  admiration  of  the  witnessing  multitude  who 
rend  the  air  with  acclamations  for  pardon.  The  tyrant 
king,  Dionysius,  is  rendered  motionless  by  the  sublimity 
of  the  spectacle  and  by  the  extraordinary  dispute  of 
the  peerless  friends.  Below  the  stratum  of  his  besotted- 
ness  runs  a  tiny,  unsuspected  rivulet  of  manhood,  which 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross    99 

the  power  of  the  scene  forces  to  the  surface,  opening 
a  vent  in  these  words: 

"Live !  Uve,  ye  incomparable  pair !  Ye  have  demon- 
strated to  me  that  somewhere  there  exists  a  Supreme 
Being  who  has  endowed  you  with  one  of  His  own  at- 
tributes. Love  such  as  this,  can  emanate  only  from 
Him!" 

And  Damon  and  Pythias,  saved  from  the  scaffold, 
descend  amid  the  dithyrambic  plaudits  of  the  populace. 

In  the  second  group,  the  Jewish,  we  have  for  ex- 
emplars David  and  Jonathan,  whose  great  friendship  is 
glorified  and  immortalized  by  the  Sacred  Text.  Count 
how  many  times  it  says:  "Jonathan  loved  David  as 
his  own  soul."  Note  the  wondrous  love  in  their  dispute 
as  to  which  shall  secure  the  privilege  of  yielding  Israel's 
throne  to  the  other.  Observe  also  how  many  times 
Jonathan  risks  his  life  for  his  cherished  David. 

But  these  friendships,  exquisite  though  they  were, 
dwindle  into  insignificance  when  we  reach  the  highest 
pinnacle  and  contemplate  the  Divine  Friend  pillowing 
the  head  of  his  beloved  John  on  His  Sacred  Heart. 
Here  we  have  the  very  apotheosis  of  friendship,  the 
guide  for  all  mankind,  who  seek  unspeakable  calm 
for  their  weary  head  on  the  breast  of  a  friend.  O 
blessed  passion  of  Love  which  abides  with  us  after 
Faith  and  Hope,  their  great  mission  fulfilled,  have 
passed  away  and  only  heaven  remains !  Thus  the  Divine 
Friend  stands  on  the  bridge  of  human  love,  a  sacred 
model  connecting  past,  present,  and  future  with  love 
chains,  linking  a  St.  Polycarp  with  a  St.  Lawrence,  a 


loo  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

St.  Francis  de  Sales  with  a  St.  Jane  de  Cliantal,  and 
numberless    religious    friends    with    friends. 

Among  the  last,  ranked  Sister  Mary  Paul  in  her  role 
of  friend;  and  well  did  she  copy  her  holy  ancestors 
in  respect  to  the  claims  of  the  most  delicate  of  pas- 
sions, which  in  her  exuberant  nature  needed  right  di- 
rection and  wholesome  restraint. 

Her  friendship,  removed  from  a  chilling  world,  was 
transmitted  into  glowing  loyalty  which  fulfilled  its  God- 
given  mission ;  namely,  happiness  and  security. 

The  trying  months  of  noviceship  and  the  small 
thorny  paths  leading  up  to  profession  were  rendered 
less  hard  by  the  help  of  her  "dear  friend." 

The  elections  consequent  on  the  death  of  Mother 
Alphonsus  were  presided  over  by  His  Grace,  Most 
Reverend  P.  W.  Riordan,  D.  D.,  and  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Mother  Agatha  Superioress;  Sister  Mary 
Paul  Assistant;  and  Sister  Kostka  Zelatrice. 

These  new  officials  were  highly  pleasing  to  our  holy 
Assistant,  not  because  she  found  herself  second  in 
authority,  but  because  she  praised  God  who  had  given 
her  the  favor  of  a  Superior  whom  she  not  only  loved 
but  also  esteemed  for  rare  prudence  in  the  difficult  and 
arduous  task  of  governing  a   religious   community. 

During  Mother  Alphonsus'  administration,  these 
qualities  had  been  under  the  keen  observation  of  the 
sisters,  the  ill-health  of  the  former  causing  most  of 
the  work  to  be  done  by  her  Assistant  now  the  Supe- 
rioress-elect;  hence  the  joy  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  to 
have  over  her  dear  sisters  one  whom  she  believed 
would  rule  for  their  welfare. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  loi 

What  satisfaction  Sister  Mary  P?;iil^gjive/ during  fter 
term  of  office,  would  be  better  understood,.  C(^^^4'^  the;, 
observer  see  the  gayety  and  happihesij  >  of  her  s^ritudl' ' 
children,  whenever  she  went  amongst  them.  Her  con- 
ferences were  full  of  unction,  the  outcome  of  her  inter- 
ior recollection  and  of  her  love  for  the  charge  entrusted 
to  her  by  God.  Her  plan  here  was  similar  to  that  of 
her  school-room  work;  "because,"  said  she,  "no  matter 
what  be  our  condition  of  life,  the  Commandments  bind 
us,  and  upon  them  our  spiritual  structure  must  be 
raised." 

She  held  in  abhorrence  anything  that  savored  of 
comparisons  either  regarding  the  character  of  one's 
work  or  the  hours  of  labor  entailed.  If  such  compari- 
sons were  remotely  suggested,  she  was  troubled  that 
any  one  in  God's  house  should  be  anything  but 
radiantly  happy  when  one,  rather  than  another, 
had  been  selected  to  perform  the  heaviest  labor  in 
God's  holy  service.  In  her  office  she  could  not  escape 
the  inevitable  task  of  reproving;  but  whenever  this 
had  to  be  done,  she  took  care  that  the  recipients  of  the 
reproof  had,  what  she  called,  a  good  laugh  before  re- 
tiring. This  little  kindness  of  hers  was  so  well  known 
among  pupils  that  they  looked  for  some  funny  story 
on  days  upon  which  they  deserved  and  received  her 
censure.  The  funny  story  came  just  before  night 
prayers,  so  that  they  generally  knelt  to  pray  calm  and 
repentant,  while  the  most  thoughtful  learned  most  use- 
ful lessons  on  cheerfulness  under  difficulties,  espe- 
cially difficulties  resulting  from  one's  own  shortcomings. 

The     two     virtues,     simplicity     and     sincerity,     she 


I02  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

deefnied  nec'e^sa^ry^  to  good  breeding.  *'In  the  perfect 
Ikdy*  we- T€<cognize  tile  perfect  nun,"  she  would  say, 
and  she  insisted  upon  unobtrusive  and  delicate  man- 
ners in  contradistinction  to  those  which  are  striking. 

On  one  occasion,  a  child  who  had  been  over- 
mannerly,  was  marked  low  in  the  monthly  honors 
for  politeness.  The  child  inquired  the  cause,  where- 
upon Sister  M.  Paul  answered,  "My  child,  paradox- 
ical though  it  appears,  you  received  low  standing 
because  you  were  too  polite."  The  child  somewhat 
bewildered  said  naively,  "I  don't  know  what  that  big 
words  means !" 

**Go,  dear,  and  hunt  it  up  in  your  dictionary;  then 
return  and  we  will  discuss  the  subject  of  good  man- 
ners." Needless  to  say,  the  child  was  improved  by 
the  lesson,  plus  the  knowledge  of  the  "big  word." 

Now  was  knit  the  first  sonnet  of  Sister  M.  Paul's 
religious  life,  the  sextette  thereof  rounding  out  all 
the  richness  and  beauty  of  which  the  octave  had 
given  promise.  Her  executive  years  closed  this 
sextette  and  ushered  in  the  fourth  regime  of  the 
Santa  Rosa  Community.  Truly  did  the  sisters  miss 
the  saintly  jurisdiction  exerted  over  them,  and  it  was 
equally  painful  to  their  Mother  Assistant  to  resign  her 
charge.  She  often  declared  that  God  had  given  her 
so  much  sweetness  in  her  work,  that  she  was  loath  to 
change  it. 

Time  is  the  developer  of  theory  and  practice. 
Truly  was  it  so  in  regard  to  the  subject  of  our 
sketch.  Often  she  would  say  with  stimulating  effect, 
"Whatever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  that  do  with  all 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  103 

thy  might."  She  herself  obeyed  to  the  letter  this 
injunction  and  found  therein  the  sweetness  which 
she  sought. 

She  was  fully  convinced  of  the  beneficent  results 
effected  by  little  changes  in  one's  daily  routine;  con- 
sequently she  was  ingenious  in  planning  them.  Later 
when  Elmhurst  Academy  was  purchased,  she  enjoyed 
going  with  the  sisters  to  this  beautiful  home  in  Napa 
Valley  making  thereby  pleasure  of  necessity;  and 
since  driving  was  preferred  to  other  modes  of  travel, 
the  sisters  started  early  and  journeyed  leisurely;  and 
lured  by  the  stately  ferns  and  wild  flowers  of  the 
hills,  they  often  gathered  them,  thus  breaking  the 
tedium  of  continuous  driving. 

A  secluded  spot,  which  from  the  steel  blue  color 
of  the  rocks,  the  sisters  named  "Blue  Rocks"  became 
their  dining  pavilion,  canopied  by  blue  sky.  A  pure 
stream  gurgling  over  the  rocks  gave  refreshing  drink, 
while  rich  grass  gave  renewed  vigor  to  the  horses. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  scenic  grandeur  through 
which  our  picnickers  pass  in  going  from  Santa  Rosa 
to  St.  Helena,  we  ask  the  readers  to  ascend  Rincon 
Hill,  overlooking  Rincon  Valley,  on  a  morning  when 
Spring  in  full  tide  of  adolescence  is  freeing  vegetation 
from  Winter's  grasp  and  beautifying  all  with  fresh  shades 
of  green;  when  She  is  gemming  the  turf  with  an  incon- 
ceivable mixture  of  iridescence;  when  She  is  incensing 
the  air  from  her  thousand  thuribles;  when  She  is  send- 
ing forth  her  warblers  to  utter  Her  gladness,  till  each 
sense  is  alive  to  Her  glory.  Above  nearer  to  the 
clouds.   She  is   manifesting  her  wildest   moods   with 


I04  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

never  a  suggestion  of  gentleness;  while  hundreds  of 
feet  below  in  undulating  grace  lies  the  expanse  of 
Sonoma  Valley,  wide  and  most  fertile  of  vales.  Here 
agricultural  skill  is  doing  its  utmost  to  make  it  re- 
semble a  vast  conservatory,  and  scientific  experi- 
ments in  Nature's  secrets  are  carried  on  by  Luther 
Burbank,  California's  wizard.  From  our  viewpoint 
Rincon  Hill,  may  be  seen  the  modest  spires  and 
domes  of  Santa  Rosa,  while  in  the  blue,  hazy  distance, 
a  little  more  to  the  southwest,  is  the  thriving  town 
of  Sebastopol. 

Regaled  by  their  meal  at  "Blue  Rocks,"  our  pic- 
nickers re-enter  their  carriage  and  descend  the  hill 
on  the  other  side.  Soon  a  flat  stretch  of  road  is 
reached  which  leads  to  the  Petrified  Forest.  Enter- 
ing this  cemetery  of  trees,  one  is  amazed  to  see  hoary 
forest  giants  who,  overpowered  by  a  fearful  deluge  of 
lava  in  days  of  volcanic  upheaval,  were  felled  to  the 
earth  and  buried  deep  in  graves  of  tufa.  Who  shall 
say  in  what  age  they  were  entombed  before  com- 
mercial activities  caused  them  to  be  exhumed !  Sight- 
seeing parties  and  geologists  come  to  view  these 
petrified  monsters  of  metamorphosed  vegetation. 
Sister  Mary  Paul,  as  eager  as  any,  promises  herself  an 
object  lesson  here  with  her  geology  class. 

The  picnic  day  is  far  spent,  when  Mt.  St.  Helena 
and  the  foothills  skirting  Napa  Valley  are  outlined 
against  the  sky.  At  this  season  of  the  year  the  sum- 
mits and  sides  of  mountain  and  hill  vary  from  purple 
to  pearly  gray,  then  to  a  soft  coral  tint,  and  the  green 
foliage,  sending  its  sheen  from  below,  makes  a  picture 
not  to  be  forgotten. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  105 

"Great  heights  charm  the  eye,"  says  Goethe,  "but 
the  steps  leading  thereto  do  not."  Thus  Mt.  St. 
Helena,  four-thousand  five-hundred  feet  in  height,  is 
gloriously  objective!  This  view,  and  especially  the 
valley,  is  eulogized  by  M.  S.  Beers;  and  of  those  living 
in  this  mountain  snuggery,  just  south  of  the  "Switzer- 
land of  America,"  the  following  lines  both  truly  and 
beautifully  express  their  sentiments. 

NAPA  VALLEY. 

I  spied  a  beautiful  valley, 

All    nestled    cosily   down 
In    the    lap    of   some    grand    old   mountains, 

That  were  flecked  in  green  and  brown; 
It  was  like  a  wondrous  vision, 

Which  comes  in  our  purest  hours, 
Of  the   garden   made  in    Eden, 

All  filled  with  fruits   and  flowers. 
And  trees  that  were  green  forever; — 

With   a   river  rippling   through, 
That   waters   the   beautiful  valley 

And  its  blossoms  of  every  hue. 
'Twas  a  land  enriched  with  vintage, 

And  flowing  with  honey  and  wine: 
A  valley,  like  that  of  Hermon, 

With  its  dews  and  gold  sunshine. 

John  Ruskin  w^hen  celebrating  the  thirteenth  an- 
niversary of  his  birthday  was  asked  if  he  had  spent  a 
happy  year.  He  replied,  "It  was  the  happiest  of  my 
life,  because  I  think  in  common  things;  it  is  having 
too  much  to  do  which  constitutes  happiness."  If  this 
juvenile  philosopher  spoke  truth,  then  must  Sister  Mary 
Paul  have   had   a  veritable   elysium,  as   those   could 


io6  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

testify  who  witnessed  the  daily  round  of  duties  which 
gave  little  leisure  to  our  sweet,  unselfish  laborer. 

"Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before."  Elec- 
tions were  to  be  held  on  June  21,  1895,  and  as  this 
date  approached,  the  sisters  began  to  anticipate  the 
loss  of  their  Mother's  holy  jurisdiction.  All  too 
quickly  for  their  loving  hearts  came  St.  Aloysius' 
Feast  whose  evening  found  elections  over,  and 
Mother  St.  John  in  the  chair  of  Superioress. 

The  ascetic  spirit  of  the  new  Superioress  urged 
her  to  concern  herself  more  with  the  interior  life 
of  the  community  than  with  the  exterior;  conse- 
quently, bolts  and  screws  of  the  inner  life  were 
fastened  and  tightened,  and  God  was  truly  served 
under  her  strict  direction.  Though  Sister  Mary  Paul 
had  a  constitutional  regret  to  lay  old  ways  aside,  she 
was,  nevertheless,  as  diligent  in  her  loyalty  to  the 
new  Superioress  as  she  had  been  to  the  preceding. 
She  was  wont  to  say:  "Dear,  holy  Mother  St.  J. 
will  mold  many  a  saint  in  our  cherished  community," 
and  perhaps  one  of  Sister  Mary  Paul's  accidental  joys 
in  heaven  is  this  knowledge.  Soon  after  the  election. 
Reverend  John  Rogers  of  Tomales  requested  the  help 
of  two  sisters  for  his  Sunday-school  in  Sebastopol,  a 
growing  city  about  seven  miles  from  Santa  Rosa. 
His  zealous  desire  was  promptly  gratified  by  the 
services  of  Sisters  U.  and  G.  These  rendered  service 
of  such  merit  that  a  great  number  of  children  are  still 
yearly  instructed  and  prepared  for  the  Sacraments. 
The  good  work  continues  in  unbroken  interest,  not 
only  on  the  part  of  pastor  and  sisters  but  also  on  the 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  107 

part  of  parents  and  children.  This  extension  of  the 
teaching  of  Christian  Doctrine  in  St.  Sebastian's 
parish  lifted  from  Sister  M.  Paul's  shoulders  the 
work  she  was  wont  to  do  among  individuals  residing 
at  a  distance. 

Among  the  Sunday-school  children  enrolled  have 
been  many  whose  parents  she  instructed  and  "genuine 
little  Romanists  they  are,"  said  a  non-Catholic  lady, 
"which  speaks  volumes  for  the  instruction  of  their 
fathers  and  mothers."  The  time  afforded  Sister  Mary 
Paul  by  release  from  the  Sebastopol  Sunday-school 
work  gave  our  zealous  catechist  more  opportunity 
to  devote  herself  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  young 
ladies  of  Santa  Rosa  through  the  Sodality  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin ;  and  the  power  for  good  exercised  by 
these  young  women,  can  be  estimated  only  when  the 
veil  is  drawn  and  things  are  no  longer  seen  in  "a 
dark  manner." 

Miss  Mary  R.,  one  of  these  Sodalists,  thus  de- 
scribes her  holy  directress : 

"What  can  I  say  of  Sister  Mary  Paul's  missionary 
work  as  Prefect  of  the  Sodality?  One  thing  I  can 
affirm  is  that  in  all  the  years  of  our  acquaintance, 
her  aim  was  to  keep  the  Sodality  a  purely  spiritual 
body.  Sometimes  the  girls  would  urge  her  to  allow 
them  to  introduce  innocent  pleasures,  but  the  answer 
was  ever  T  think  Father  C.  wishes  us  to  make  this  a 
spiritual  order  only,  and  so  it  ought  to  be.'  Then, 
too,  her  instructions  to  us  were  heart  to  heart  talks, 

and  I  remember  E saying  on  one  occasion  that 

she  would  rather  listen  to  Mother  M.  Paul's  instruc- 
tions than  to  an  eloquent  sermon. 


io8  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

"But  after  our  meeting  proper  was  over,  hand  in 
hand,  as  many  of  us  as  could  get  near  our  beloved 
Mother,  had  our  little  walks  over  to  the  Convent  from 
the  church  or  hall.  We  then  sat  on  the  steps  or 
walked  around  the  paths,  loath  to  leave;  and  in  the 
pleasantry  of  the  hour  how  the  hearty  laugh  of 
Mother  Paul  could  be  heard !  I  remember  her  once 
asking  a  young  girl  if  the  gentleman  in  whom  she 
was  interested  was  a  Catholic  and  if  he  attended 
church !  'Why,  yes,  Mother,  he  goes  to  church  every 
Sunday  evening.'  How  we  all  laughed !  But  Mother 
M.  Paul,  taking  the  remark  seriously,  instructed  the 
young  lady  on  the  necessity  of  going  to  church  a  little 
earlier  in  the  day.  She  understood  us,  brought  out 
the  best  that  was  in  us,  and  interested  herself  in  our 
home  life  and  future.  Then,  too,  how  much  she  did 
for  those  not  of  the  Sodality!  I  have  in  mind  a  boy 
who  attended  to  his  religious  duties  and  said  the 
Litany  of  Loretto  every  day,  because  he  had  prom- 
ised Sister  M.  Paul  to  do  so.  I  could  quote  many 
similar  examples,  but  let  one  suffice.  Oh!  bright, 
happy  moments  spent  in  her  holy  company!  Surely 
we  were  privileged  for  her  leadership !"     ^ 

The  following  letters  though  written  some  years 
later,  will  exemplify  her  holy  encouragement  to  a 
young  sodalist  aspiring  to  the  religious  life: 

"Ursuline  Academy,  St.  Helena,  Sept.  14,  1911. 

"My   dear   M : 

"Yesterday  your  sweet  letter  was  received.  I  am 
delighted  to  see  you  still  reaching  for  the  Great 
Ideal;  soon  it  will  be  within  your  grasp,  the  Feast  of 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  109 

St.  Ursula  would  be  an  auspicious  day  for  you  to  take 
the  first  step.  If  you  have  not  sent  in  your  applica- 
tion to  Mother  Superior,  I  would  advise  you  to  do 
so  at  once ;  however,  you  must  consult  Rev.  Father 
C.  and  be  guided  by  his  decision  as  to  the  time  of 
leaving  home.  Dear  Father  C.  baptized  you.  I 
prepared  you  for  First  Communion  from  which  time 
you  have  been  faithful  to  God's  whisperings.  How 
delighted  Father  C.  will  be  to  receive  from  his  dear 
spiritual  child  M.  the  vows  of  Poverty,  Chastity,  Obedi- 
ence, and  Charity  or  Institute.  You  will  keep  the 
lamp  of  Chastity  always  burning  in  your  hand,  you 
will  feed  it  with  the  oil  of  Charity,  and  replenish  it  with 
the  perfume  of  Humility.  Then  when  death  comes, 
you  will  confidently  hail  the  summons  to  arise  and 
go  forth  to  meet  the  Bridegroom  to  remain  forever  in 
His  fond  embrace.  Please  tell  your  mamma  and  papa 
that  Sister  Mary  Paul  says,  'the  privilege  of  leaving  all 
to  find  all,  is  on  Margaret's  side.'  Religion  does  not 
crush  the  natural  affection;  it  purifies  and  ennobles 
filial  instincts,  makes  us  wish  our  loved  ones  well  and 
inspires  ardent  prayer,  that  they  may  reach  the  High- 
est Goal,  God  Himself,  when  the  days  of  severe  pro- 
bation in  a  world  of  temptation  and  strife,  are  done 
forever." 

To  the  same. 

"My   dear   M : 


"I  am  delighted  to  read  from  your  kind  letter  your 
sweet  determination  of  giving  yourself  to  Almighty 
God  under  the  banner  of  our  own  dear  Mother  St. 
Angela.    You,  dear  M will  be  the  gainer  for  time 


no  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

and  eternity.  Do  not  delay  when  you  hear  the  voice 
of  God  speaking  to  you  through  your  revered  spiritual 
Father.     Enter  just  when  he  decides. 

**The  permission  which  you  will  be  obliged  to  get 
from  the  Most  Reverend  Archbishop  need  not  cost 
you  any  anxiety,  and  Rev.  Father  C.  will  give  you 
a  letter  of  introduction  before  you  go  to  see  His 
Grace.  Present  yourself  as  soon  as  possible.  Answer 
simply  any  question  the  Archbishop  may  ask  you. 
Then  you  will  return  to  Santa  Rosa  with  the  approval 
of  His  Grace  on  your  holy  determination  of  being 
admitted  into  the  Convent  of  the  Ursulines,  there  to 
live  under  the  same  roof  with  our  dear,  sweet  Lord 
till  you  hear  the  Heavenly  Bridegroom's  call  to  your 
Eternal  Home :  'Come,  child  of  My  Heart,  thou  art 
at  rest !'  Here  are  a  few  lines  dedicatory  of  the  new 
life  you  are  about  to  enter  upon  here  below : 

"Jesus  hidden   on   the   altar, 

More  than  all  the  world  to  me, 
Had  I  all  things  without  Jesus, 
Earth,  a  dreary  waste  would  be." 

"As  soon  as  you  return  from  San  Francisco,  write 
me  how  you  enjoyed  your  visit  to  the  Most  Reverend 
Archbishop.  Say  one  Hail  Mary  to  our  Lady  of  Good 
Counsel  daily  in  these  days  of  immediate  preparation 
for  entering  the  convent.  If  you  do  this,  you  need 
fear  nothing,  for  our  dear  Mother  Mary  in  answer  to 
your  prayer  will  be  your  guide." 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  in 

Another  letter  to  the  same  after  the  Ceremony  of 
Reception : 

"My  dear  Sister  G ,  Congratulations! 

"Your  sweet  letter  came,  making  my  heart  rejoice 
to  learn  that  at  last  you  are  safe  in  God's  House. 
What  a  privilege!  And  to  think  that  you  are  called 
by  the  name  of  one  of  Jesus'  most  loving  Spouses ! 
You  know  it  is  said  of  our  dear  Lord  that  to  repose 
in  the  heart  of  Gertrude  was  His  chief  delight.  And 
why? — Because  her  heart  was  so  pure,  so  generous, 
and  so  much  like  to  His  own  Sacred  Human  Heart. 
Think  of  this,  when  you  go  to  Holy  Communion.  I 
am   glad   you-  are   studying   Latin   with    dear    Sister 

P ,  also  that  you  are  continuing  your  music.    Do 

all  these  things  for  the  pure  love  of  God  so  that  you 
may  be  more  useful  among  the  children.  Eat  well, 
sleep  well,  and  laugh  well.  I  think  you  will  be- 
come a  favorite  child  of  your  saintly  Mistress  of 
Novices.  Try  to  imitate  her.  Ask  our  Lord  daily  to 
make  you  love  the  spirit  of  your  holy  vocation.  Be 
humble.  Be  kind.  Do  not  try  to  appear  learned. 
Be  your  own  true  self,  and  you  will  lead  many  souls 
to  God.  Courage !  O,  what  a  consolation  to  go  to 
confession !      You    must    tell    dear    Reverend    Father 

Q anything  that  might  trouble  you.    Speak  only 

of  self,  and  keep  that  down  as  much  as  you  can." 


112  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

A  New  Year's  letter: 
"Dear  Sister  G : 

"A  very  happy  New  Year !  I  am  delighted  to 
hear  you  are  well,  but  just  think,  dear,  'all  the  beauty 
of  the  King's  daughter  is  within.' 

"Some     day    your    family    will     see     their    dear 

M seated  on  the  triumphal  car  of  Jesus  under 

the  banner  of  St.  Angela  among  all  the  dear  Ursu- 
lines  of  Santa  Rosa,  driving  through  the  New  Jeru- 
salem and  singing  the  new  canticle,  which  only 
virgins  will  sing — and  what  beatitude  for  all  Eter- 
nity !  Courage !  Be  good.  Be  obedient.  Life  is  a 
vapor  that  appears  for  a  short  time,  then  vanishes : 
but,  like  the  same  vapor,  should  tend  skyward.  Send 
your  aspirations  in  this  direction  and  fear  not.  Keep 
self  in  the  background,  and  Jesus  will  place  you  in 
the  foreground  with  His  favored  ones." 

The  following  letter  to  the  same  written  on  the 
eve  of  Sister  Mary  Paul's  death  is  remarkable: 

"November   13,    1912. 

"My  dear  Sister  G : 

"Your  first  feast  in  the  Convent!  Congratula- 
tions! How  far  have  you  climbed  on  the  'Golden 
Ladder'?  I  hope  you  are  quite  high  on  it  by  this 
time.  Remember  that  when  you  reach  the  top,  you 
will  find  our  dear  Lord  waiting  to  greet  His  dear 
faithful  spouse,  and  to  crown  her  with  an  everlasting 
diadem  of  glory  in  Heaven.  Courage !  A  few  short 
years  away  from  a  wicked  world,  then  an  everlasting 
reward ! 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  113 

''May  dear  St.  Gertrude  obtain  for  you  and  yours 
a  practical  Faith  accompanied  by  good  works.  What 
a  day  of  rejoicing  when  you  and  all  your  dear  ones 
will  be  safe  in  Heaven !  Courage,  I  repeat.  Life  is 
short.     'A  day  quickly  passed.' 

"Be  charitable.  Be  prayerful.  Jesus  will  be  with 
you.  'Forget  thy  people  and  thy  father's  house,  and 
the  King  will  greatly  desire  thy  beauty.'  Your  peo- 
ple will  be  cared  for  by  Him,  who  is  never  outdone 
in  generosity.  Fond  love  to  all  the  family.  My 
love  to  your  saintly  Mistress  of  Novices,  and  to  all 

the  novices.     Please  tell  dear  Sister  B 'that  I 

will  answer  her  note  as  soon  as  I  find  time.  The 
Ursuline  'rush'  is  now  in  Elmhurst  on  account  of  the 
big  parish  school." 

After  Mother  St.  J had,  with  holiness  and 

profit  served  her  term  of  office.  Mother  A was 

reinstalled  as  Superioress.  Again  Sister  Mary  Paul 
felt  the  goodness  of  God  in  accordance  with  her 
desire  as  to  the  issue  of  elections.  "I  feel  as  if  I 
were  treading  on  thin  air,"  she  said,  when  she  re- 
turned from  the  congratulatory  exercises  incident  on 
the  re-inauguration  of  her  former  Superioress.  Many 
times  on  this  auspicious  day  did  she  draw  near  to 
the  Holy  of  Holies  to  pour  forth  her  gratitude  for 
the  morning's  graces;  and  many  times  did  she  com- 
ment on  the  same  with  companions. 

The  following  day  was  one  of  general  recreation, 
which  relieved  both  the  strain  of  the  late  retreat  and 
the  anxiety  consequent  on  elections.  Under  the 
umbrageous    oaks    and     spreading    willows    in    the 


114  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

open,  flower-scented  air  and  to  the  singing  and  chirp- 
ing of  the  inhabitants  of  the  trees,  was  served  a 
genuine  picnic  dinner.  Reverend  J.  M.  C,  the 
loved  and  honored  guest,  beguiled  the  time  with 
inimitable  stories  and  reminiscences  from  his  life  of 
crowded  and  felicitous  experiences. 

Dinner  over,  the  diligent  Marthas  of  the  festivity 
sit  down  to  table  amidst  prolonged  applause,  which 
gives  time  for  a  group  of  Marys  to  begirth  them- 
selves w^ith  aprons  and  other  appurtenances  for  the 
equal  success  of  the  second  contingency.  Their 
further  duty  is  to  leave  all  things  ready  for  an 
out-door  supper,  since  the  whole  day  must  be  en- 
joyed in  the  open. 

In  the  afternoon  are  exhibited  feats  of  skill  in 
tennis;  or  that  comforting  feminine  instrument,  the 
needle,  is  seized  by  the  more  practical,  and  presto ! 
they  lash  out  on  linen  or  silk,  spreading  artistic  pat- 
terns over  the  goods  soon  to  be  converted  into 
the  sacred  use  of  the  Altar  as  vestments.  Tabernacle 
curtains,  and  the  like. 

Ah !  me !  fair  days  of  monastic  peace,  of  innocence 
and  culture,  why  are  you  not  better  known,  why  are 
there  so  few  to  sit  at  Jesus'  Feet,  like  our  holy  Sister 
Mary  Paul,  to  drink  deeply  the  inebriating  draughts 
of  His  Love,  saying,  "Lord,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be 
here"?  But  the  shades  of  night  come  on  apace 
and  the  Office  bell  calls  to  prayer.  An  onlooker  of 
the  day's  proceedings  v^ould  say,  "You  lucky  ones 
are  having  your  hundredfold  here."  But  the  promise 
of  Eternal  life  is  the  hundredfold  at  infinite  interest! 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  115 

Life  is  so  checkered  with  joy  and  sorrow,  that  the 
more  reflective  learn  how  to  prepare  for  the  one,  while 
experiencing  the  other;  and  in  these  experiences  of 
joy  and  sorrow  Sister  Mary  Paul  had,  as  we  have 
seen,  no  small  share.  The  joyful  part  of  her  existence 
was  soon  suspended,  and  in  spirit  we  now  find  her 
walking  with  the  Morrissey  family  on  the  Via  Crucis; 
for  her  beloved  mother  is  about  to  leave  her  loved 
ones  for  heaven. 

But  not  as  the  Cyrenean  took  the  Cross  of  Christ  did 
the  Morrisseys  take  theirs.  Lovingly  and  ungrudgingly 
they  bore  it  so  that  their  mother's  passing  was  as  peace- 
ful as  her  life  had  been. 

Pillowed  on  the  strong  arm  of  one  of  her  faith- 
ful sons,  she  lay,  her  voice  answering  the  prayers  for 
her  own  entrance  to  Eternity;  her  lips  frequently 
kissing  the  crucifix;  her  children  with  the  exception 
of  the  one  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  present. 

In  the  family  of  Patrick  and  Sarah  Morrissey,  the 
proverbial  black  sheep  was  conspicuous  by  absence; 
for  with  the  vigilance  of  the  earthly  angel  guardian 
that  Mrs.  Morrissey  was,  had  she  not  seen  to  it 
that  the  whiteness  of  her  children's  souls  should  not 
be  sullied?  And  now  as  her  eyes  dwelt  lovingly 
upon  each  face,  she  saw  that  fine  manhood  and 
womanhood  had  left  an  imprint  to  console  her 
dying  moments.  More  potent  than  words  were  the 
looks  that  said :  "Behold  we  are  and  shall  be  with 
God's  help  followers  of  you,  O  sweet  mother,  and 
we  shall  meet  you  again  when  the  rains  shall  cease 
and  the  shadows  vanish."     As  the  clock  struck  the 


ii6  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

hour  of  two  in  the  early  morning,  the  soul  of  this  de- 
voted mother  departed  this  Hfe  to  hear  the  comforting 
invitation,  "Come !   Thou  blessed  of  my  Father." 

The  following  notice  of  Mrs.  Morrissey's  death  gives 
some  idea  of  the  esteem  in  which  she  was  held  by  the 
parishioners  of  St.  Mary's  Church: 

"At  St.  Mary's  Church  this  morning  (September 
29,  1900),  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  S.  Morrissey  was 
held,  and  there  were  many  sympathizing  friends 
present  at  the  final  obsequies.  A  solemn  requiem 
Mass  was  sung  over  the  remains  by  Reverend  Lewis 
Bellew,  C.  P.,  celebrant;  Reverend  Theodore  Noonan, 
C.  P.,  deacon;  and  Reverend  Edmund  P.  Hill,  C.  P., 
subdeacon. 

"Reverend  Father  Lewis,  a  friend  of  the  departed 
woman,  delivered  the  funeral  sermon.  After  depict- 
ing the  beautiful  Hfe  of  the  deceased,  and  how  happy 
her  closing  moments  were  in  being  fortified  in  soul  by 
the  Church's  sacraments,  he  sympathized  with  the 
bereft  ones  in  the  loss  of  the  mother  who  had  been 
ever  watchful  and  careful  of  their  ways,  and  exultant 
in  their  success;  and  whose  memory  in  turn  should 
ever  be  embalmed  in  grateful  hearts.  The  loss  of  a 
mother  is  always  a  great  bereavement,  for  it  hushes 
the  heart  which  to  childhood  was  a  refuge;  the 
parental  heart,  which  was  always  the  source  of 
quickest  sympathy  and  the  sharer  of  joys  and  sor- 
row. Upon  the  hearts  of  those  bereft,  ill  winds 
blow  over  a  wide  wilderness  of  desolation,  and  desert 
sands  drive  across  the  place  which  once  bloomed 
like  a  garden  of  God. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  117 

"For  many  years  Mrs,  Morrissey  was  a  member 
of  St.  Mary's  Church.  She  was  one  blessed  with 
the  inestimable  gift  of  Faith,  and  she  gloried  in  the 
thought  that  she  had  given  to  the  Church  from 
among  her  children  one,  who,  at  death's  hour,  was 
praying  for  the  aged  one  about  to  give  up  life's 
struggle. 

"After  the  last  prayers  in  the  Church,  the  remains 
were  interred  in  St.  Mary's  cemetery,  where  the  final 
absolution  was  given  by  Reverend  Aloysius  Blakely, 
C.  P.,  an  old-time  friend  of  the  departed  woman. 

"The  floral  offerings  were  many  and  beautiful,  in- 
cluding a  large  broken  column,  emblematic  of  the 
loss  of  a  loved  one,  pillows,  wreaths,  and  cut  flowers. 
Floral  designs  were  given  by  city  officials,  school 
children  and  by  teachers  of  School  No.  3.  The  body 
was  laid  to  rest  in  a  vault  where  it  will  find  surcease 
forever  from  labor,  sorrow,  and  trouble. 

"At  the  funeral  were  many  school  teachers  and 
pupils  of  the  diflFerent  schools,  as  well  as  a  delega- 
tion of  city  officials,  including  the  Common  Council. 
The  departments  of  the  city  government  closed 
their  offices  during  the  morning  out  of  respect  to 
City  Engineer  Morrissey,  son  of  the  deceased." 

Sister  Mary  Paul's  letter  given  below  expresses  her 
feelings  on  her  mother's  death,  which  being  caused 
by  pneumonia,  was  somewhat  sudden. 

"J.  M.  J.  U.  A. 

"Ursuline  Convent,  Sept.  27,  1900. 
"My  cherished  brothers  and  sisters: 

"A  few  hours  ago,  I  received  the  telegram  re- 
questing me   to  pray  for   our   dear   mother,   who   is 


ii8  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

dying.  Though  it  is  now  twenty-one  years  since  I 
bade  her  good-by,  I  have  not  neglected  to  pray  for 
her,  that  God  would  give  to  her  a  peaceful  death; 
and  now  that  He  is  about  to  send  His  angel  to  take 
her  pure  soul  to  join  that  of  our  dear  father,  let  us 
thank  God  for  His  mercy.  I  know  as  well  as  you, 
beloved  people,  that  it  is  hard  to  part  with  one  so 
dear  as  our  saintly  mother:  but  she  is  only  going 
home  before  us,  to  pray  for  us  and  to  await  gladly 
our  coming,  one  by  one,  till  the  Morrissey  family 
of  Sheridan  Center  will  be  again  united  never  to 
be  separated. 

"I  am  sure  that  all  the  dear  Passionists  who  knew 
her  will  say  Holy  Mass  for  her.  Do  not  weep  too 
much,  dear  brothers  and  sisters,  as  that  would  not 
be  pleasing  to  our  dear  mother. 

"I  know  you  will  all  recall  the  example  of  a  true 
Christian  that  she  gave  us,  when  dear  father  was 
suddenly  snatched  from  us.  I  can  never  forget  it; 
a  house  full  of  young  children  around  her,  when  she 
heard  the  cruel  news  of  his  sudden  death! — imme- 
diately, with  silent  grief,  so  Godlike,  she  entered 
her  bedroom  and  on  bended  knees  she  offered  to 
God  the  heavy  blow  which  had  struck  her.  O  what 
an  example  of  pure  and  holy  faith  was  this!  let  us 
follow  this  example  of  our  death  mother;  let  us  keep 
God's  Commandments  as  perfectly  as  we  can  in  this 
land  of  exile,  and  then  we  shall  soon — O !  very  soon 
— hear  the  same  summons  to  join  our  dear  parents. 
I  have  offered  many  prayers  and  actions  that  our 
saintly  mother  would  not  only  die  a  peaceful  death 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  119 

but  also  one  without  pain  in  the  arms  of  Jesus, 
Mary  and  Joseph,  and  my  prayer  is  about  to  be 
heard. 

"Now  my  beloved  brothers  and  sisters,  be  patient 
and  resigned.  God  takes  from  you  the  sensible 
presence  of  our  fond  and  loving  mother  but  for 
what? — O,  to  take  her  home  and  to  crown  her  with 
Immortality!  Please  to  write  me  all  the  particulars 
of  her  holy  death.  I  will  be  with  you  in  spirit  at 
the  church,  at  the  grave,  and  at  the  lonesome  home, 
when  you  return  from  the  last  sad  rites.  Again 
asking  you  all  to  be  brave  and  generous  through 
this  ordeal,  I  will  close.  I  know  that  God  will  give 
you  courage  and  strength  to  bear  it  as  our  darling 
mother  would  have  wished. 

"I  will  ask  dear  Reverend  Father  C  ....  to  say 
holy  Mass  for  her  on  next  Saturday.  Tomorrow 
he  has  a  funeral  Mass.  Our  Community  will  go  to 
Holy  Communion  for  our  mother,  and,  of  course,  I 
shall  as  long  as  I  live  be  indebted  to  her  for  her 
care  of  us,  and  endeavor  to  pay  my  indebtedness 
by  continued  prayer. 

"With  love  to  all  and  gratitude  to  Almighty  God 
for  His  mercy  and  tenderness  to  the  Morrissey 
family " 


Six  years  later,  on  April  18th,  1906,  the  dread 
temblor  undid  in  twenty  seconds,  the  work  that 
millions  of  men  had  accomplished  in  a  century.  Not 
only  did  the  fair  Metropolis  of  the  Golden  West 
lie  prostrate  under  his  tortuous  route,  but  also  the 


I20  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

suburban  towns  and  cities.  Among  the  latter  was 
the  neat  little  City  of  Roses,  where  the  pitiless  de- 
vastation of  fire  worked  with  such  violence  as  to 
level  the  city  nearly  to  the  ground.  Heaps  of  tim- 
ber, pipes,  and  household  materials  remained,  while 
the  ghastly  horror  of  what  might  be  revealed  when 
men  could  gather  strength  to  remove  the  debris, 
was  the  worst  anticipation  of  all.  In  this  catas- 
trophe, the  impress  of  the  Divine  Face  was  no- 
where to  be  seen;  but  relentless  demons,  conspiring 
with  the  unreasoning  agents  of  nature,  apparently 
ruled  the  hour,  so  that  when  people  recovered 
speech,  it  was  used  to  comment  on  God's  attitude 
towards  the  world,  as  He  was  then  manifesting 
Himself  to  this  afflicted  portion. 

"If  there  be  a  God,"  said  the  skeptical,  *'and  He 
allows  this  suffering,  we  want  none  of  Him."  Others 
maintained  that  California  had  gone  far  from  God's 
Commandments,  and,  like  another  Sodom,  it  was 
doomed  to  destruction.  Saintly  souls,  too,  had 
something  to  say.  Hope  and  cheer  were  the  burden 
of  their  speech,  and  among  the  optimistic  w^as  Sister 
Mary  Paul,  who  said,  ''The  Face  of  God  is  only  mo- 
mentarily hidden  behind  the  smoke  and  flame."  But 
while  she  believed  this,  and  knew  that  His  Almighty 
power  was  restraining  Nature's  forces  with  the 
nicety  of  adjustment  belonging  to  His  omniscience, 
she  looked  with  awe  on  the  murky  masses  of  smoke 
heaving  skyward,  turning  day  into  night.  In  com- 
parison : 

"Surely,  the  things   that  we  do, 
Are  the  sports  of  a  child  to  the  infinite  View." 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  121 

Scientists,  busy  with  their  seismographs  and 
other  aids  to  man's  puny  knowledge  (never  more 
puny  than  when  struggling  in  so  fearful  a  crisis) 
were  gathering  what  information  they  could  on  the 
temblor's  fearful  activities. 

That  God  rarely  interferes  with  physical  laws 
was  the  comment  of  some.  Others,  whose  minds 
soared  never  outside  the  boundaries  of  their  labora- 
tories, insisted  that  the  earthquake  was  a  mere  nat- 
ural phenomenon  which  might  be  repeated  any  time 
before  the  sun  went  down  on  April  18th.  But  as 
the  hours  of  dismal  forebodings  dragged  on  and  the 
dread  Visitor  did  not  conform  to  the  conjectures  of 
Job's  comforters,  people  began  to  return  to  a  sense 
of  the  work  before  them.  The  temblor  had  taken 
care  to  twist  water-pipes  into  a  net-work  of  inutil- 
ity; and  fire  had  already  spent  its  force;  therefore, 
all  must  be  up  and  doing. — Were  not  the  birds  sing- 
ing wild  Te  Deums  with  the  jubilation  that  im- 
periled nature  feels  when  safety  succeeds?  Were 
not  cool  zephyrs  playing  among  trees  and  flowers  as 
if  in  mockery  of  people's  anguish?  Was  not  sun- 
shine flooding  the  ruins  till  all  nature's  manifesta- 
tions seemed  on  a  mission  of  mockery?  The  very 
''Regina  Coeli  Laetare"  in  the  Divine  Ofiice  of  the 
season  took  on  a  strange  mocking  ring  to  hearts 
attuned  to  the  ''Dies  Irae"  so  that  human  beings 
alone  seemed  excluded  from  the  thanksgiving  of 
God's  creatures. 

In  these  sad  hours,  Sister  Mary  Paul's  familiar 
figure  might  be   seen   seeking  our  Lady's   shrine  •  or 


122  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

consoling  some  poor  stricken  one  who  sought  the 
holy  grounds  to  pour  the  day's  sorrow  into  her  sym- 
pathetic ear.  The  shrine  was  a  favorite  resort  in 
those  days  as  the  chapel  was  considered  unsafe. 

The  Sunday  following,  Reverend  Father  C  .  .  . 
celebrated  Holy  Mass  on  the  Convent  grounds, 
where  an  unwonted  congregation  had  assembled  to 
worship  and  to  be  consoled  by  their  Pastor's  touch- 
ing words  in  exposition  of  the  inspired  Word  of 
God,  so  generously  doled  to  the  hearers,  who  now 
especially  hung  on  his  utterances  for  light  and 
strength  of  soul.  If  the  chief  mission  of  speech  is 
to  unite  man  with  man  by  communication  of  ideas, 
to  soothe  and  comfort  in  the  season  of  distress  like 
this,  how  good  is  its  mission !  More  effective  and 
ennobling  does  it  become,  when  uttered  amidst  the 
witcheries  of  artistic  singing  to  the  accompaniment 
of  stringed  instruments.  This  thought  actuated  the 
Sisters,  who,  for  so  memorable  a  Mass,  put  forth 
their  talents,  and  what  with  Sister  C  ...  at  the 
harp  and  Sister  E  ...  at  the  harmonium,  and  the 
splendid  voices  of  Sisters  A  .  .  .  and  M  .  .  ., 
the  people  received  the  benefit  of  the  mission  of  the 
human  voice,  and  were  comforted  and  uplifted. 

Following  the  singing  in  its :  "Deep  night  hath 
come  down  on  us.  Mother,"  and  the  reiterated  "We 
look  for  Thy  shining,  Sweet  Star  of  the  Sea," 
fresh  confidence  buoyed  up  the  courage  of  the  listeners 
and  revived  trust  in  the  Almighty  Fatherhood  of  God 
whose  message  in  this  earthquake  visitation  seemed  to 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  123 

read:  "I  have  punished  you  here  that  I  may  spare 
you  Hereafter" — a  memorable  Sunday  this,  to  be  writ 
in  the  annals  of  the  California  Ursulines! 

When  Sister  Mary  Paul  reahzed  that  April  18th 
was  the  feast  of  Blessed  Mary  of  the  Incarnation, 
America's  first  Ursuline,  there  was  no  doubt  in  her 
mind,  but  that  the  personal  safety  of  the  sisters 
and  the  miraculous  preservation  of  the  buildings 
were  due  to  the  intercession  of  her  spiritual  an- 
cestor. O  happy  we,  whose  religious  ancestors  have 
left  us  the  great  legacy  of  their  heroic  lives !  more 
happy  we,  when  we  use  that  legacy  in  accordance 
with  the  will  of  the  testatrix;  most  happy  we,  when, 
having  put  that  legacy  out  at  the  highest  rate  of 
interest,  we  receive  our  reward  and  in  turn  trans- 
mit the   same   augmented   to   our   descendants. 

"Surely,"  said  Sister  Mary  Paul,  "it  was  our  Blessed 
Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  who  inspired  the 
'Elks'  to  provide  with  incredible  speed  bread  enough 
to  keep  Santa  Rosa  from  serious  hunger  for  several 
days."  Such  generosity  from  all  outside  the  con- 
vent, coupled  with  extraordinary  unselfishness  on  the 
part  of  those  within,  caused  our  holy  sister  to  say, 
"It's  like  living  amongst  the  early  Christians." 

This  letter  written  on  the  day  of  the  earthquake 
speaks  for  itself: 

"Santa  Rosa,  Cal.,  April  18,  1906. 
"To  my  dear  brothers  and  sisters : 

"Thank  God  we  are  saved  from  the  'jaws  of 
the  earthquake.'  At  about  5 :30  A.  M.  we  were 
visited  by  a  terrible  shock.     Nearly  all  Santa  Rosa 


124  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

is  destroyed,  Post  Office,  Court  House,  etc.  We 
do  not  know  yet  how  many  persons  have  been 
killed.  The  Convent  and  the  priest's  house  with  the 
inmates  of  both  houses  are  safe  with  no  one  even 
hurt.  The  church  is  slightly  damaged.  Following 
the  earthquake,  owing  to  the  falling  in  of  roofs  and 
the  danger  of  live  wires,  fire  with  its  devastating  conse- 
quences, began  to  rage.     This  indeed  was  our  terror. 

''The  children  all  assembled  in  the  chapel  and 
said  the  Rosary  at  10  A.  M.,  but  they  recited  the 
Litany  of  the  Saints  outside  as  fear  for  safety  in 
the  chapel  was   aroused. 

"How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  God!  The  labor 
and  skill  of  man's  greatest  works  can  in  a  moment 
become  dust.  Be  good,  dear  people,  only  goodness 
and  nobility  of  Hfe  live  Beyond!  Santa  Rosa  has 
often  experienced  a  light  shaking  of  the  earth,  but 
this  morning  made  us  realize  how  terrible  is  an 
earthquake.  Would  you  please  have  a  Mass  said 
in  thanksgiving  for  the  preservation  of  our  Sisters 
and  pupils?  Also  say  the  Rosary  that  God  may  be 
better  known,  and  loved  in  California.  Dear,  patient 
Mother  Superior  is  somewhat  overcome  with  the 
dreadful  shock.  Thank  God  for  His  Mercy  to  us 
all!     Thank  God!  is  all  I  can  say." 

"April  23,   1906. 
"My  dear   Brother  J    .    .    .  : 

"Your  telegram  just  received.  O !  dear  brother, 
thank  God  we  are  all  safe.  Our  dear  little  City  of 
Roses  is  sadly  ruined,  and  poor  old   San  Francisco 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  125 

nearly  destroyed.  The  Convent  stands — a  monu- 
ment of  God's  mercy  to  us.  On  Sunday  last  Rever- 
end Father  C  .  .  .  said  both  Masses  on  our  Con- 
vent grounds,  where  the  beautiful  sky  was  the  dome 
of  the  lovely  temporized  Altar.  The  nuns  and  chil- 
dren sang  at  the  first  Mass  and  the  nuns  alone  at 
the  second.  For  the  time  being,  all  felt  that  they 
were  in  a  new  and  supernatural  place,  separated 
from  the  harrowing  scenes  but  a  few  blocks  away, 
for  besides  the  havoc,  some  people  were  killed  and 
some  burned  in  the  catastrophe.  I  sent  to  M  .  .  . 
a  paper  which  will  tell  you  of  the  destruction  in 
San  Francisco.  Some  feel  that  the  earthquake  is  a 
visitation  from  Almighty  God  for  the  pursuit  of 
wealth  and  pleasure,  which  has  taken  possession  of 
our  people,  while  God's  Law  is  forgotten.  How- 
ever, His  justice  is  tempered  by  His  Mercy,  and 
many  are  saved.  There  is  a  big-heartedness  in  the 
men  of  California,  not  found  perhaps  in  any  other 
state,  but  its  people  need  to  worship  God  and  thus 
make  California  a  most  favored  State — even  though 
earthquakes  do  come  sometimes.  It  is  said  that  the 
region  west  of  the  Sierras  is  an  upheaval  and  we  may 
have  volcanic  activity  from  time  to  time. 

"We  are  praying  hard  during  the  continuance  of 
this  disaster,  that  God's  anger  may  be  appeased,  and 
that  peace.  Christian  hope,  and  a  new  life  may  be 
infused  into  all.  Soon  our  fair  City,  with  its  big 
sister  San  Francisco,  will  rise  a  better,  a  stronger, 
and  a  more  beautiful  God-like  one  than  before." 

One   of   the   victims    of   the   temblor   writes    thus 


126  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

of  Sister  Mary  Paul:  ''I  shall  never  forget  her,  nor 
how  all  wanted  her  near  them.  Her  presence 
seemed  to  bring  us  peace ;  the  reassuring  pressure 
of  her  soft  little  hand  and  her  kind,  holy  words 
were  like  balm  to  our  stricken  hearts.  Her  happi- 
ness knew  no  bounds  when  she  spoke  to  those  of  us 
who,  unscathed  by  the  disaster,  had  come  to  see  how 
the  nuns  fared.  How  fervently  she  took  us  before 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  and  remained  with  us  while 
we  poured  out  our  thanksgiving,  and  how  fervent- 
ly also  did  she  make  the  sign  of  the  Cross  on  our 
foreheads !  Like  our  dear  Lord  Himself,  she  bade 
us  fear  not.  During  this  dreadful  time  of  restless 
repose,  how  often  we  would  see  her  in  our  dreams 
ministering  to  the  injured!  The  angel  of  the  earth- 
quake we  thought  her  and  truly  we  were  not  mis- 
taken, for  Sister  Mary  Paul  was  more  angel  than 
human.'* 


CHAPTER  IX. 

On  May  4th,  1906,  feast  of  St.  Monica  and  the 
anniversary  of  the  landing  of  Blessed  Mary  of  the 
Incarnation  on  the  shores  of  that  historic  citadel, 
Quebec,  Sister  Mary  Paul  celebrated  the  Silver  Jubilee 
of  her  holy  Profession;  but  for  obvious  reasons 
a  spiritual  celebration  was  all  that  could  take  place. 
However,  her  sisters  united  with  her  in  gratitude  for 
the  signal  preservation  from  earthquake  and  fire  and 
for  their  ability  to  resume  the  work  of  St.  Angela. 

It  was  joy  enough  to  see,  that  by  degrees  affairs 
were  assuming  normal  conditions  and  that  faces  of 
friends  were  less  fear-stricken.  Past  despair  was 
giving  way  to  hope.  The  cheer  which  Sister  Mary 
Paul  had  hitherto  forced  was  becoming  genuine;  and 
as  people  were  growing  more  natural,  they  were 
able  to  see  the  humor  of  some  happenings,  so  that 
faint  smiles  were  broadening  into  healthy  laughter. 
Sister  Mary  Paul  dwelt  on  the  kindness  of  God's 
mercy  which  gives  the  laugh  as  well  as  the  tear,  and 
Reverend  Father  C  .  .  .'s  reiterated:  "A  shock 
like  this  may  not  occur  again  for  a  century,"  gave 
solidity  to  the  platform  of  cheerfulness  upon  which 
she  stood  and  upon  which  she  desired  her  friends  to 
stand. 

The  family  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  had  long  been  look- 
ing forward  to  her  Jubilee  as  a  suitable  time  to  make  a 
request;  namely,  that  they  most  earnestly  desired 
to  see  their  sister,  and  since  they  were  so  many  in 


128  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

the  family  it  became  a  question  whether  Mohammed 
should  go  to  the  mountain  or  the  mountain  to  Mo- 
hammed. The  former  alternative  having  prevailed, 
they  earnestly  requested  a  visit  from  Sister  Mary 
Paul.  However  much  her  nature  acquiesced,  she, 
nevertheless,  kept  herself  in  a  state  of  indifference 
and  merely  answered  that  whatever  was  the  will  of 
God  and  of  her  Superiors,  that  she  would  accom- 
plish. It  was  not  until  June,  1908,  that  God's  will 
was  made  manifest  by  the  permission  being  granted; 
and  following  the  short  delay  of  immediate  prep- 
aration for  the  trip.  Sister  Mary  Paul  and  her  invited 
companion.  Mother  A  .  .  .,  found  themselves  speed- 
ing eastward. 

From  a  letter  written  to  her  brother  before  the 
trip,  we  extract  the  following: 

"Sometimes  I  forget  your  kind  offer,  but  when 
it  comes  to  my  mind,  it  fills  my  soul  with  sweet 
consolations.  I  will  be  so  happy  to  see  you  all, 
especially  your  darling  babies.  I  am  happy  to  take 
dear  Mother  A  .  .  .  with  me,  who  has  not  only 
been  my  Superioress  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  off 
and  on,  but  also  the  tenderest  of  mothers,  so  that  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  share  with  her  that  trip  home, 
through  you,  dear  brother.  You  will  all  love  her  for 
her  almost  divine  simplicity,  and  greatness  of  charac- 
ter." 

The  Sunday  which  occurred  within  the  days  of 
travel,  dawned  as  the  Sisters  reached  Glenwood 
Springs;  and  as  connection  was  not  immediate,  our 
travellers  had  time  to   hear  holy   Mass.     Sister  Mary 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  129 

Paul  with  her  wonted  devotion  became  the  self- 
constituted  server.  Mass  over,  the  gracious  cele- 
brant, Reverend  Father  O'Dwyer,  invited  his  guests 
to  breakfast. 

Toward  evening,  the  travellers  reached  the  con- 
vent of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  at  Manitou.  Mother 
Ignatius,  the  Superioress,  received  her  guests  with 
sisterly  cordiality  and  lodged  them  in  a  room  of 
unusual  elegance,  which  troubled  our  poverty-loving 
Sister  Mary  Paul.  But  on  hearing  that  it  was  a  source 
of  revenue  to  the  Convent,  because  patients  desiring 
such  a  suite  of  rooms  paid  well  for  their  use,  she 
hesitated  no  longer. 

The  following  morning,  Mother  I  .  .  .  inquired 
if  her  guests  had  rested  well.  Sister  Mary  Paul  re- 
plied :  "Mother,  when  I  overcame  my  astonishment 
at  the  bed  canopied  in  purple  velvet  and  the  superb 
furnishings  of  the  room,  I  slept  quite  well." 

"No  marvel  that  you  were  astonished,"  said  the 
amused  hostess,  "when  I  tell  you  that  by  some  his- 
toric luck,  we  are  now  the  possessors  of  the  couch 
of  Josephine   Bonaparte." 

"Is  it  not  a  mystery  how  a  woman  of  Jose- 
phine's character  could  not  turn  the  ambition  of  her 
husband  into  other  channels  than  those  of  blood?" 
said  Sister  Mary  Paul. 

"Perhaps,"  Mother  A  .  .  .  rejoined  (playing 
on  the  word  Bonaparte),  "his  name  had  something 
to  do  with  making  him  what  he  was.  He  parted, 
disjointed,  rended,  and  buried  more  human  bones  than 
his  prototype  Alexander  the  Great." 


130  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

"The    French    signification  of   the   name   would   be 

more   complimentary  to   the  great  little   man,"   said 

Mother  I     .     .     .,  but  Sister  Mary  Paul  agreed  with 
Lowell  : 

"He   alone   is   base 
Whose  love  of  right  is  for  himself 
And  not  for   all  the   race." 

The  arrival  of  the  driver  to  take  the  travellers  to 
the  station  put  an  end  to  comment,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  Sisters  were  en  route  to  the  top  of  Pike's 
Peak.  The  brave  little  engine  pulling  over  trusty 
cogs  and  the  quasi-conductor  discoursing  on  the 
scenic  interest  of  the  ascent :  they  meanwhile  were 
mounting  past  the  timber  line,  past  cavernous  holes 
charred  and  vast,  past  pools  black  and  fathomless; 
past  dizzy  precipices,  past  uncanny  lakes  swinging 
above  the  world.  Along  the  trail  was  writ  by 
mysterious  pens  appalling  texts  from  Scripture  and 
other  sources,  until  Dante's  Inferno  seemed  scarce- 
ly a  circumstance  to  the  awesome  dread  of  God's 
vengeance  conjured  up  by  scene  and  text. 

Finally  the  summit  was  reached,  and  before 
Sister  Mary  Paul  looked  out  over  the  world  stretched 
below  her,  regardless  of  the  gale  that  threatened  to 
take  away  her  breath  and  the  crowd  of  heterogene- 
ous religionists  that  stood  around,  she  fell  on  her 
knees  and  recited  a  "Laudate,"  devoutly  emphasiz- 
ing the  "montes  et  colles"  and  the  "spiritus  procel- 
larum." 

The  vast  horizon  removing  all  obstructions,  there 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  131 

could  be  seen  at  seemingly  short  distances  Colorado 
Springs,  Denver,  Cripple  Creek,  Pueblo,  Canon  City, 
and  the  snow-clad  Rockies  hundreds  of  miles  away. 
"No  wonder  that  man's  greatest  supernatural  events 
took  place  on  mountains,"  said  Sister  Mary  Paul  to 
her  companion.  "From  Ararat  to  Sinai,  from  Sinai 
to  Nebo,  from  Nebo  to  Olivet,  from  Olivet  to  Cal- 
vary— what  a  trail  of  holy  travel !  and  what  trans- 
cendent things  are  the  mountains  themselves ! 
Prayer  seems  the  fittest  expression  of  my  feelings 
here,"  she  continued. 

Below  lay  the  sin-tossed  world;  above  reigned 
infinite  peace  glorified  by  the  risings  and  settings  of 
suns. 

The  Cave  of  the  Winds  next  claimed  the  Sisters* 
attention.  Its  heavy  darkness,  its  cavernous  cham- 
bers and  stalagmite  statuary  revealed  by  flashlights, 
the  colossal  figures  of  Lot's  wife  and  other  cele- 
brities are  so  described  by  geographers  that  little  is 
left  to  add,  except  that  the  Cave  of  the  Winds  and 
this  Garden  of  the  Gods  surpass,  to  Sister  Mary 
Paul's  mind,  the  experience  of  Telemaque  in  Calyp- 
so's abode  or  the  enchanted  palaces  of  fairy  lore. 

As  the  time  of  travel  was  limited,  the  Sisters 
reluctantly  bade  adieu  to  Colorado,  and  in  a  few 
days  they  found  themselves  in  Dunkirk,  New  York, 
in  the  midst  of  friends  whose  hunger  for  the  sight 
of  their  loved  one  was  at  last  satisfied. 

Among  her  very  own,  Sister  Mary  Paul  had  the 
bliss  of  spending  a  few  weeks,  and  who  shall  de- 
scribe the  happiness  that  she  brought  them,  or  the 


132  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

comfort  they  brought  her  in  their  blameless  lives ! 
She  confided  to  Mother  A  .  .  .  that  she  could 
sing,  "Dismiss  me,  Q  Lord,  for  my  eyes  have  seen 
my  people  serving  and  loving  Thee  beyond  all  else !" 
Scenes  dear  to  her  childhood,  the  Church  in  which 
she  offered  her  young  life,  the  beloved  Passionist 
Fathers,  the  spots  where  slept  the  remains  of  her 
worthy  parents — all  were  lovingly  visited.  Verily 
her  people  had  found  a  season  of  happiness  wherein 
they  would  fain  live  and  ward  off  the  inevitable 
parting,  which  came,  however:  and,  be  it  said  that 
"the  veil  which  hides  the  future  is  woven  by  angel 
hands,"  for  it  mercifully  shut  out  in  this  parting  the 
knowledge  that  this  was  to  be  their  last  meeting  on 
earth,  notwithstanding  each  hopeful  ruse  which  rela- 
tives press  into  service  to  mitigate  the  agony  of 
farewells.  But  she,  leaving  behind  her  the  sunshine, 
turned  into  the  dark  night  of  "nevermore"  where 
hands  do  not  clasp,  nor  lips  meet;  neither  are  words 
of  love,  though  conjectured,  spoken.  But  God's 
Holy  Will  was  the  lever  by  which  Sister  Mary  Paul's 
soul  was  uplifted.  The  train  pulled  out  from  Dun- 
kirk and  headed  for  the  great  Metropolis. 

In  St.  Angela's  Ursuline  College,  New  Rochelle, 
New  York,  she  met  some  old  friends  and  made  new 
ones.  Her  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds,  when  she 
saw  the  splendid  achievements  of  her  Sisters  both 
here  and  in  Bedford  Park  at  Harlem,  N.  Y.  Her 
devotion  was  stirred  by  the  stately  manner  in  which 
the  Divine  Office  was  recited  to  organ  accompani- 
ment.     How    restful    the    holy    atmosphere    of    the 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  133 

place !  How  queenly  Mother  Irene,  the  Superior- 
ess !  Christian  progress  and  culture  permeate  New 
Rochelle,  the  ''Catholic  Vassar"  as  St.  Angela's  Col- 
lege is  called  by  those  who  compliment  it  on  its 
secular  attainments.  "Was  not  our  visit  here  a 
dream  of  religious  neighborliness  ?"  said  Sister  Mary 
Paul,  as  later,  she  sat  on  the  deck  of  the  "Harvard," 
on  its  maiden  trip  to  Boston,  which  City  was  in  the 
itinerary  of  our  travelers. 

Reverend  Father  T  .  .  .,  C.  S.  P.,  a  former 
pupil  of  Sister  Mary  Paul,  met  her,  and  needless  to  say, 
this  reverend  friend  outdid  himself  in  showing  favors 
to  his  beloved  teacher.  The  Governor  of  Rhode 
Island,  Hon.  James  Higgins,  whose  family  were  most 
dear  to  the  Sisters,  constrained  them  to  spend  a 
brief  time  in  Pawtucket. 

The  Canadian  Pacific  route,  which  Sister  Mary 
Paul  preferred  for  her  home  journey,  gave  opportun- 
ity to  visit  Cliff  Haven  and  the  Ursulines.of  Quebec 
en  route.  Her  impressions  of  these  places  may  be 
better  understood  from  her  letters.     She  writes: 

"My  dear  ones: 

"How  have  you  been  since  Mother  Superior  and 
I  saw  you  looking  so  disconsolate?  How  cruel  the 
acceleration,  the  roar,  and  the  rush  of  the  train  as  it 
hurled  miles  between  you  and  me !  Now  I  am  sail- 
ing on  Lake  Champlain  toward  Ticonderoga.  Sr. 
M.  M.  of  Burlington,  a  guest  of  the  Gray  Nuns,  is 
with  us.  A  party  of  doctors  is  also  here;  for  a 
terrific  storm  is  so  scaring  the  doctors'  wives,  that 
the    ladies    think    themselves    safe    near    us.      This 


134  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

makes  me  very  humble  at  my  unworthiness  of  their 
confidence.  These  doctors  know  Governor  Higgins 
and  pronounce  him  to  be  a  man  that  never  utters 
falsehood,  never  drinks,  never  cheats,  and  one  of  the 
whitest-souled  men  in  the  State.  You  can  imagine 
how  pleased  we  were  to  hear  this. 

"We  are  taking  this  historic  trip  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Rev.  J.  Mullany  and  his  charming  sisters. 
Our  meeting  them  is  the  nearest  we  shall  ever  get 
to  their  gifted  brother.  What  pleasure  we  had  in 
discussing  his  works !  Dear  Brother  Azarias !  How 
proud  they  are  of  his  vocation  to  the  Christian 
schools !  Mother  A  .  .  .  was  greatly  interested 
in  this  meeting,  and  also  in  that  of  Reverend  John 
Talbot  Smith,  and  generous  Father  Thomas  Mc- 
Millan, C.  S.  P.  We  think  their  Cliff  Haven  is  the 
acme  of  pleasurable  education." 

The  arrival  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  in  Quebec  in 
July  1908,  followed  close  upon  the  tri-centenary 
celebration  of  the  City's  foundation  in  1608.  The 
tawdry  of  dead  garlands,  the  skeletons  of  things 
that  were,  and  the  paper-bestrewn  streets  suggested 
Moore's  "Banquet  Hall  Deserted";  but  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  wrecked  decorations,  the  fete  must  have 
been  of  splendid  spectacular  interest.  One  feature 
of  the  celebration  was  the  Sisters'  acceptance  of  the  in- 
vitation to  participate  in  the  civic  function;  accordingly 
the  Ursulines  went  outside  their  boundary  and 
rounded  out  this  truly  historical  pageant.  The 
Ursuline  Monastery,  be  it  known,  is  in  point  of 
time,  one  of  Quebec's  foundation  stones.  Its  be- 
ginnings were  in   1639. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  135 

After  the  formula  of  securing  the  Archbishop's 
permission,  our  travellers  were  admitted  within  the 
cloister  of  the  Convent  and  were  received  by  the 
daughters  of  Blessed  Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarna- 
tion, America's  foundress  of  the  Ursuline  Order. 
Their  reception  had  in  it  love,  simplicity,  and  enthu- 
siam,  which  found  in  Sister  Mary  Paul  a  kindred 
spirit.  When  she  was  greatly  impressed  she  was 
eager  to  share  her  feelings  with  others,  for  "Happi- 
ness was  born  a  twin,"  and  therefore,  she  took  the 
first  opportunity  to  send  the  following  letter  to 
Santa  Rosa: 

"My  dear  sweet  Sisters: 

"Mother  A  .  .  .  and  I  are  so  bubbling  over 
with  Order-pride,  that  I  send  you  these  few  lines  to 
tell  you  how  we  are  impressed  with  the  Ursulines 
of  Quebec. 

"Mother  says  our  feet  are  not  exactly  standing  in 
the  New  Jerusalem :  but  in  the  courts  paved  and 
planned  by  Blessed  Mary  of  the  Incarnation.  She  is 
not  dead,  for  her  spirit  is  still  training  and  drawing 
to  our  Lord  the  nuns  and  children  of  Quebec.  The 
Sisters  have  preserved  as  much  as  possible  the  build- 
ings which  she  reared.  In  these  the  very  holes  made 
by  the  contending  cannon  of  the  French  and  English 
are  so  covered  that  by  opening  a  slide  one  can  see 
the   original   walls   bulleted   by   cannon. 

"We  arrived  at  an  opportune  time,  because  a  few 
days  previous  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  his  staff  had 
been  entertained  here,  and  the  things  of  historic 
interest  which  had  been  shown  him  had   not  been 


136  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

replaced ;  hence,  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
the  exhibit.  The  skull  of  Montcalm  with  a  few  teeth 
in  the  upper  jaw  was  the  most  interesting.  When 
his  Royal  Highness  saw  the  skull,  he  asked  to  be 
conducted  to  the  tomb  of  the  French  hero.  "Why 
did  they  not  bury  the  skull  with  the  rest  of  his 
body?"  inquired  the  Prince.  Mother  Superior  re- 
plied that  monastic  folk  have  ever  safeguarded  not 
only  history  proper  but  also  concrete  things  apper- 
taining thereto. 

"We  prayed  in  the  little  chapel  in  which  Mass 
had  been  said  by  the  Jesuit  missionary  Father 
Jogues  and  by  other  victims  of  Indian  revenge. 
The  chapel  and  altar  are  scarcely  disturbed  from 
the  time  these  holy  martyrs  used  them.  At  one  side 
of  this  altar  and  covered  with  a  rich  crimson  pall 
is  a  casket  containing  the  bones  of  Mother  Mary 
of  the  Incarnation,  Mother  St.  Joseph,  and  Madame 
de  la  Peltrie.  The  humble  dwelling  of  the  last 
named  with  its  quaint  windows  and  gables,  still 
stands.  The  past  is  so  merged  into  the  present, 
that  one  is  puzzled  as  to  the  nearness  of  the  one  and 
the  apparent  remoteness  of  the  other.  We  took 
dinner  with  the  community  in  the  great  refectory, 
and  after  we  had  partaken  of  the  soup,  the  Superior- 
ess gave  a  signal,  whereupon  was  rendered  a  burst 
of  song  in  harmonious  parts :  the  decorum  of  the 
sisters  and  the  burden  of  the  song  with  its  *Ecce 
quam  bonum'  effect,  were  soul-stirring  and  devo- 
tional in  the  extreme.  On  the  conclusion  of  this 
unique  number,  we  were  loath  to  return  to  the  ma- 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  137 

terial  things  of  life — to  eat  and  make  merry.  But 
the  holy  Superioress  bade  us  take  recreation,  an  un- 
usual privilege  in  this  refectory,  where  during  meals 
'the  mouth  not  only  receives  its  nourishment,  but 
the  ear,  by  spiritual  reading,  is  also  filled  with  the 
word  of  God.' 

"Mother  St.  Croix,  a  near  relative  of  Oliver  Wen- 
dell Holmes,  is  one  of  the  annalists  here.  She  has 
attained  two  years  in  her  tenth  decade.  She  is  hale 
and  hearty  and  busy  with  her  pen,  spending  much 
time  in  her  little  sanctum.  Strict  cloister  life  does 
not  impair  health,  but  rather  promotes  it.  No  one 
could  be  a  better  illustration  of  her  renowned  kins- 
man's poem  entitled,  'Eighty  Years  and  More.'  In 
it  he  says : 

"At   sixty-four  life   has  begun; 
At   seventy-three   begin   once   more; 
Fly  swifter  as  thou  near'st  the  sun, 
And  brightest  shine  at  eighty-four, 
At   ninety-five,    shouldst    thou    survive 
Still  wait  on  God  and  work  and  thrive. 

"  'Mother  Holmes,'  as  she  is  familiarly  called, 
could  join  hands  with  a  sister  nonagenarian  of  the 
preceding  century  and  the  latter  in  turn  could  be 
in  close  touch  with  Blessed  Mary  of  the  Incarnation, 
thus  linking  by  some  few  spans  the'  past  three  hun- 
dred years.  So  close  do  these  years  seem,  that  I 
think  even  the  ancestors  of  the  vegetables  that  we 
had  for  dinner  grew  under  the  tillage  of  the  Found- 
ress' busy  little  spade. 

"A  day  has  passed  since  the  above  was  written, 


138  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

and  we  have  been  to  the  Merici  Convent,  situated 
near  the  Plains  of  Abraham.  Two  of  the  sisters  ac- 
companied us.  We  visited  the  battle-ground,  and 
saw  the  spot  where  Wolfe  fell.  A  little  fence  sur- 
rounds it,  and  a  slab  on  which  is  written  'Here 
Wolfe  fell!'  designates  the  place  and  the  triumph 
of  the  British  Flag.  Mother  A  .  .  .  has  gather- 
ed flowers  on  the  Plains,  fertilized  by  the  blood  of 
heroes. 

'*To-morrow,  we  are  to  visit  the  Shrine  of  St.  Ann 
de  Beaupre  of  which  you  will  hear  later.  Then  we 
must  try  to  sever  the  sweet  ties  that  bind  us  to  our 
holy  sisters  of  Quebec  and  go  to  you  who  are 
sweeter  and  dearer  still." 

The  following  day  Sister  Mary  Paul  visited  the 
shrine  of  St.  Ann.  The  devotion  of  the  pilgrims  and 
the  services  at  the  Basilica  were  to  her  a  rare  spirit- 
ual tonic.  Here  she  saw  demonstrated  the  catechism 
lesson  of  how  we  must  take  more  care  of  the  soul 
than  of  the  body.  To  such  extent  was  this  care  of 
the  soul  carried,  that  the  pilgrims  seemed  uncon- 
cerned about  food,  heat,  discomfort,  and  the  densely 
crowded  Church.  Quietness  and  brotherly  thought- 
fulness  prevailed.  It  is  soothing  to  think  how 
hopefully  things  of  the  soul  progress — now,  it  is 
Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  in  early  French 
Canada,  then  a  Dom  Bosco  in  the  slums  of  Turin; 
later,  heroic  daughters  of  St.  Angela  in  the  ice-bound 
wildernesses  of  Alaska,  a  Sister  Mary  Paul  in  the  land 
of  sunshine  and  flowers.  In  obedience  to  their  "Sic 
luceat  lux  vestra,"  these  servants  of  God  have  lit  up 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  139 

the  darkness  wheresoever  they  have  carried  the  lamp 
of  faith. 

If  struggles  for  the  fleeting  goods  of  life  are 
omnipresent,  so  too  are  struggles  for  the  soul-life. 
The  good  are  marching  on.  They  must  march,  be- 
cause their  allies  are  swift  angels,  their  strongholds 
the  desert,  the  wilderness,  the  snowy  Alpine  sum- 
mits, and  the  icy  fastnesses.  The  music  of  their 
lives  is  heard  by  those  who  have  ears  to  hear,  and, 
like  the  stars  that  dot  the  firmament,  so  do  Christ's 
very  own  adorn  the  earth  with  the  beauty  of  their 
activities. 

But  event  passes  event  in  rapid  succession  and 
our  travellers  are  seated  on  the  deck  of  the  boat  that 
is  fast  plying  toward  Montreal.  Their  late  experi- 
ences are  giving  color  to  the  moonlit  St.  Lawrence. 
The  sublime  language  of  night  is  sinking  deep  into 
their  souls,  and  those  to  whom  they  had  lately  said 
adieu,  seem  to  have  imparted  the  peace  and  enjoy- 
ment that  they  feel  amidst  the  soft  splendors  of 
night. 

The  next  morning  they  reach  Montreal,  where 
they  spend  some  hours  with  Brother  Jerome  of  the 
Christian  Brothers'  College.  This  was  the  last  halt; 
a  farewell  from  Brother  Jerome  and  the  sisters  turn 
to  the  West  with  his  gracious  Godspeed. 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Canadian  Pacific  Route  promising  its  full 
share  of  scenic  interest  and  the  land  of  Jacques 
Cartier  fast  receding,  the  sisters  settled  themselves 
down  to  life  on  wheels ;  and  O !  blessed  flexibility 
of  human  nature !  their  hearts  were  eager  to  be  with 
their  religious  family  notwithstanding  the  late  pleas- 
ures which  had  been  theirs. 

Arriving  at  Glacier,  great  was  the  astonishment 
of  our  travellers  at  the  stately  monolith  Sir  Donald, 
which  rises  a  naked  and  abrupt  pyramid  to  the 
height  of  a  mile  and  a  quarter;  near  by  are  the 
glacier-fed  waters  of  the  Illecillewaet,  and  the  Sel- 
kirk Mountains  with  their  groups  of  crags  so  great 
in  magnitude  that  eye  and  mind  fail  to  grasp  them. 
Nature  here  could  not  be  personified  by  the  appel- 
lation "Dame  Nature,"  for  femininity  is  of  another 
category  of  natural  phenomena.  Some  undreamed- 
of Titan  would  more  fittingly  answer  to  the  yawning 
crevices  and  amazing  heights.  Such  vast  delinea- 
tions, together  with  the  Rockies,  inspired  the  fol- 
lowing lines : 

THE  ROCKIES. 

Rockies  hoary,  Rockies  splendid, 
Say,  what  are  ye,  things   sublime? 

Naught   on   earth   proclaims  the  wonders 
Of    God's   work   in    any   clime 

As   do   ye,   O    Rocky   Mountains, 
Grandest  Sentinels  of  Time. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  141 

When   Jehovah's   thoughts   came   earthward, 
Carved  He  Rockies  near  the  skies; 

Chiseled  them  to  calmest  grandeur, 
Colored   them   in   deep   sunrise — 

Touched  their  pinnacles  and  turrets 
In   the   wonders   of    His   dyes. 

O  your  silence,  Rocky  Mountains, 

Seems  as  if  great  harps  had  flung 
All  the  pulsing  of  their  anthems 

To  infinity,  whose  tongue 
Ordered  silence,  deep  and  awesome. 

Where  primeval  anthems  rung. 

Rockies,  ye   uphold  the   couches 
Whereon   dies   each   King  of  Day — 

Oh,  the  pageant  of  his  passing! 
Oh,  the  pomp  of  your  display 

When  you  part  the  heaven-dyed  curtains 
To  admit  the  bier  of  Day. 

The  journey  from  Vancouver  to  San  Francisco 
in  August  is  attended  by  excessive  heat,  and  dis- 
comfort is  augmented  by  the  crow^ds  travelling  dur- 
ing this  season  of  the  year.  Hence  it  was  that  the 
trip  taken  by  Sister  Mary  Paul  was  exhausting  in  the 
extreme,  but  with  her  usual  fortitude  and  unselfish- 
ness, she  was  concerned  only  for  her  companion ;  and 
when  the  friendly  old  fog  came  from  San  Francisco 
Bay,  she  welcomed  the  coolness  with  unwonted  de- 
light. 

When  she  reached  Santa  Rosa  and  was  again  in 
the  bosom  of  her  beloved  Community,  she  said  she 
would  never  again  leave  the  precincts  of  her  Con- 
vent, "unless,"  as  she  added  playfully,  "to  take  my 


142  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

last  journey  to  our  dear  sweet  Lord."  In  truth,  the 
bark  for  this  journey  was  at  no  great  distance, 
awaiting  favorable  winds  and  a  heavier  cargo  of 
spiritual  goods. 

In  Sister  M.  Paul's  absence,  work  had  accumu- 
lated; but  with  her  usual  methodical  way,  she  dis- 
patched the  accumulation  by  degrees  till  all  her 
duties  were  soon  again  going  at  normal  speed.  She 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  living  in  the  present  and 
would  often  quote : 

"The  present,   the   present  is  all  that  thou  hast. 
For  thy  sure   possessing. 
Like  the  angel  that  wrestled  with  Jacob, 
Hold   it  fast  till   it  gives  thee  its  blessing." 

The  bark  for  her  last  voyage  had  approached 
nearer,  and  the  tired  voyager  seemingly  was  destined 
to  take  passage:  for  she  lay  unconscious  under  a 
stroke  of  apoplexy,  which  gave  little  hope  of  re- 
covery. The  crisis  passed,  however,  and  almost  im- 
perceptibly at  first,  then  more  rapidly,  she  returned 
to  consciousness  and  feebly  inquired  what  had  hap- 
pened. In  less  than  a  month,  she  was  again  in  her 
usual  place  reciting  the  Office  and  attending  to  the 
daily  spiritual  exercises. 

She  had  so  inured  herself  to  obey  the  first  stroke 
of  the  bell,  that  even  in  her  half-conscious  state, 
she  essayed  to  rise  the  moment  it  rang.  Reading  in 
Christian  Perfection  that  sickness  is  truthful  in 
demonstrating    one's    real    character,    she    wondered 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  143 

how  it  had  revealed  hers:  but  those  who  watched 
her  returning  from  the  portals  of  death  saw  but  her 
spiritual  beauty  increased.  Her  soHcitude  had  been 
entirely  for  them,  lest  they  should  be  fatigued  in  their 
care  of  her  or  their  sleep  interrupted. 

Frequently  she  would  say,  "How  well  we  are 
taken  care  of  in  the  house  of  the  Lord !  How 
sweet  is  His  spouse,  the  Christian  soul,  to  her 
prostrate  and  needy  sister!"  Thus  her  extreme 
unselfishness  edified  all  in  sickness  as  in  health. 
The  doctor  gave  warning  that  another  such  stroke 
might  be  fatal.  Sister  Mary  Paul,  however,  thought 
only  of  the  blessed  union  with  God  and  repeated  over 
and  over  again,  "Laetatus  sum  in  his  quae  dicta 
sunt  mihi,"  or  "Gloriosa  dicta  sunt  de  te,  civitas 
Dei."  Such  joyful  anticipations  did  but  bring  her 
back  restored  in  health  all  the  sooner  to  her  eager 
pupils  and  more  eager  Community. 

The  June  following  her  illness,  elections  again 
took  place,  resulting  in  the  installation  of  Mother 
Angela  as  Superioress. 

Order  and  methodical  work  in  this  regime  re- 
ceived new  and  vigorous  impetus,  and  resulted  in 
the  Ursuline  College  of  Santa  Rosa  taking  its  place 
among  the  schools  accredited  to  the  State  Univer- 
sity, Berkeley. 

To  this  achievement  Sister  M.  Paul  brought  her 
best  efforts  and  realized  flattering  success.  Yet 
while  she  worked  with  the  energy  of  former  years, 
nevertheless    a   change   of   scene    and    climate   being 


144  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

within  the  facilities  of  the  sisters,  was  deemed  ex- 
pedient. Accordingly  in  August,  she  was  trans- 
ferred to  St.  Helena.  Fair  ''Elmhurst"  was  all  that 
could  be  desired;  but  fair  places  and  salubrious 
climates  do  not  fill  a  void  in  the  heart.  However, 
no  hint  as  to  interior  struggles  escaped  Sister  Mary 
Paul,  and  this  new  field  of  labor  received  her  full 
attention. 

From  her  last  retreat  to  the  day  of  her  death, 
four  months  later.  Sister  Mary  Paul  betrayed  no  dim- 
inution of  vigor;  on  the  contrary,  her  faculties 
seemed  more  than  ordinarily  energized  and  her 
eagerness  to  do  extra  work  became  greater.  Her 
charity  became  more  intense  as  she  neared  the  goal. 

When  school  reopened  in  August,  her  welcome  to 
new  pupils  and  her  renewal  of  friendships  for  old 
ones  lost  none  of  the  warmth  and  enthusiasm  of 
former  occasions;  nor  did  her  usual  little  homily 
on  vanity  lack  any  of  its  unction  by  being  presented 
in  a  new  dress.  Seeing  any  suggestion  of  powder 
on  young  faces,  she  would  say :  ''Why  is  there  so 
much  water,  if  we  are  not  to  keep  clean?  Why,  is 
there  so  much  air,  if  we  are  not  to  inhale  it?  Why 
is  health  of  body  so  attractive  if  we  do  not  foster  it? 
Why  is  virtue  so  beautiful  if  we  are  not  to  practice 
it?  Clean  water  and  fresh  air  are  nature's  cos- 
metics and  we  may  be  as  extravagant  in  their  use 
as  we  wish." 

Sometimes  favorite  teachers  might  be  transferred 
to   other   departments   or   loved   companions   of   pre- 


f^i 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  145 

ceding  terms  might  be  missing,  thereby  leaving  in 
childish  hearts  a  hunger  for  what  was.  To  these 
little  sorrows  she  gave  real  sympathy  or  turned 
them  aside  by  the  humorous  twinkle  of  her  loving 
eyes.  She  deemed  nothing  too  trifling  that  inter- 
fered with  school  happiness  and  she  looked  upon 
conventual  training  as  a  means  of  forestalling  life's 
ills;  therefore,  must  the  Convent  girl  be  contented 
in  her  environment,  so  that  undisturbed  and  at  peace 
she  may  become  a  builder  of  a  personal,  superior 
womanhood.  Zeal  along  such  lines  she  communicated  to 
her  co-workers.  "Not  only  must  we  be  efficient  teach- 
ers," she  would  say,  "but  we  must  also  be  attractive 
ones."  Things  educational  and  intrinsically  good 
can  become  dreary  unless  the  teacher  be  fully  alive 
to  all  the  possibilities  of  her  inestimable  profession. 
Hospitals  and  prisons  would  dwindle  in  number, 
perhaps  disappear,  if  women  were  educated  to  stand 
for  all  that  is  righteous. 

The  Sunday-school  work  of  the  St.  Helena  parish 
with  its  large  class  of  boys  had  been  one  of  her 
cherished  occupations,  because  in  the  teaching  of 
Christian  Doctrine,  the  youths  instructed,  knowing  their 
Master's  will,  will  more  intelligently  execute  it. 

"They  are  most  tenderly  human  who  have  gone 
deepest  into  the  divine,"  says  the  Poet-priest.  Thus 
we  find  Sister  Mary  Paul  looking  eagerly  for  Santa 
Rosa  letters  and  she  did  not  allow  work  to  hinder 
her  correspondence. 


146  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Among  letters  especially  dear  to  her  were  found 
the  following  lines  from  her  friend  M.  A. : 

"Euntes  Ibant  et  Flebant  Mittentes  Semina  Sua, 
Venientes  autem  Venient  cum  Exultation,  Portantes 
Manipulos  Suos." 

Far,  far  away  to  a  distant  land, 
I  sent  my  love  with  a  radiant  band, 
Of  other  loves,  that  they  might  sow 
In  marshes  low 
The  goodly  seed. 

Ah  me!  they  went  their  way  and  wept. 
And  all  along  that  land  storm-swept, 
On  virgin   soil  they  cast  the  seed 
And  plucked  the  weed. 
To  succor  crop. 

In  their  new  land,  a  Love  supreme 

Uplifted  them  on  am'rous  theme, 

Till  hardest  toil  seemed  naught  but  pleasure. 

For  am'rous  treasure 

Them  repaid. 

O,  love  of  mine,  in  your  bleak  land. 
Toil  on,  till  life's  great  sphere  of  sand 
Runs   through    the   isthmus    of   its    glass — 
For  weeds,  alas! 
Abound  for  aye. 

In  your  far  land,  O  love  of  mine. 
Await  your  sheaves;  lo!  Christ  Divine 
Is  rip'ning  them  to  golden  strands — 
And   angel   bands, 
Your  allies  are. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  147 

And  why  should  not  spiritual  fructification  take 
place  where  such  seeds  were  sown,  where  such  ap- 
proved tillage  went  on  daily,  where  such  a  laborer 
was  hourly  afield,  singing  in  her  heart  her  dominant 
note — *'Ad  majorem  Dei  gloriam"? 

Intense  application  to  every  detail  of  her  duty 
was  beginning  to  tell  on  her  vitality;  and  when 
warned  that  she  must  relax  a  little,  she  pleaded  that 
one  year  of  vigorous  service  given  to  our  dear  Lord 
was  worth  a  dozen  in  which  physical  cares  were  so 
noticed  that  the  soul  lost  much  of  its  tranquillity  and 
activity.  It  was  God's  will  that  she  should  stay  yet 
a  little  while  to  bum  the  dross  of  imperfection  and 
so  bring  forth  genuine  metal. 

The  more  surely  to  accomplish  this,  she  was 
called  by  the  usual  annual  retreat  into  the  "Desert" 
for  the  last  time,  to  "hide  in  the  hollow  places  of  the 
rocks"  with  Jesus,  the  Lord  of  the  desert.  In  this 
particular  retreat  He  was  preparing  her  soul  to  meet 
Him.  As  has  been  said  the  interim  between  this 
retreat  and  the  death  of  Sister  M.  Paul  was  but  a 
few  months. 

Reverend  Father  Mackay,  S.  J.,  directed  the  re- 
treat of  1912,  and  being  encouraged  spiritually  in 
the  ways  and  means  she  was  using.  Sister  Mary 
Paul  came  forth  with  unwonted  exaltation  of  spirit. 
"How  I  should  love  to  go  to  our  dear  Lord,  now 
that  I  am  entirely  ready!"  she  was  heard  to  say — 
the  word  "entirely"  signifying  the  manner  in  which 
she  had  applied  the  Exercises  to  her  own  needs  in 
the  event  of  a  near  summons;  for  it  must  be  borne 


148  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

in  mind  that  from  the  first  stroke  of  apoplexy,  she 
had  an  abiding  presentiment  that  another  would 
prove  fatal. 

A  sister  companion  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  in  this  re- 
treat has  contributed  the  following: 

In  the  unitive  phase  of  retreat  with  the  celerity 
with  which  a  released  stone  flies  to  the  mark  intended, 
so  flew  the  soul  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  to  the  Center  of 
her  soul's  repose. 

She,  whose  first  fervor  had  never  relaxed,  took  re- 
newed resolution  to  love  our  Lord  and  to  cause  Him 
to  be  loved  to  the  extent  that  future  effort  in  her  eb- 
bing tide  of  mortal  existence  would  permit. 

Sister  Mary  Paul,  as  has  been  mentioned  elsewhere, 
who  had  asked  a  sister  why  she  wept  and  the  Spouse  so 
near,  and,  later  seeing  a  sister  sorely  afl^icted  at  the 
sight  of  death,  inquired  why  she  was  so  affected — 
this  child  of  smiles  and  laughter,  she,  an  alien  to 
tears,  struggled  with  them  in  her  last  retreat.  The 
throes  of  nature  in  the  combat  of  complete  surrender 
come  to  most  persons  in  the  face  of  impending  death, 
but  in  her  case  they  were  tears  of  devotion,  not  of 
grief.  She  was  proverbially  a  cheerful  giver,  and  the 
"Ecce  quam  bonum"  of  the  hour  of  renovation  at  the 
close  of  retreat  found  her  restored  to  her  usual  buoy- 
ancy. Nature's  "fitful  fever"  had  been  checked  for- 
ever in  this  her  last  retreat. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

We  have  now  but  to  follow  our  loved  sister  a  few 
paces  more.  Her  lamp  is  trimmed.  She  is  near  the 
door.  The  Bridegroom's  Hand  is  upon  the  latch,  and 
lo!  she  soon  will  Hsten  to  the  "Bridal  Bells  of  Veni, 
Spousa  Christi." 

Time  was  climbing  apace  and  November,  the  sweet- 
ly sad  month  of  the  Poor  Souls  had  come,  bringing 
with  it  the  feast  of  St.  Stanislaus  Kotska.  He  was 
one  of  Sister  Mary  Paul's  favorite  saints,  and  though 
we  know  little  as  to  how  our  heavenly  friends  are 
actuated  towards  us,  except  that  they  act  for  our  good, 
we  may  yet  piously  believe  that  they  are  permitted  by 
God  to  have  accidental  joys  regarding  us.  St.  Stanis- 
laus rejoiced  when  on  his  Feast,  November  13th,  he 
placed  his  client  on  the  some  time  stem  spot,  which 
we  call  threshold.  Here  the  Master  found  her  with 
all  her  work  finished.  She  was  in  readiness  to  give 
an  account  of  her  stewardship. 

St.  Aloysius  being  asked  what  he  would  wish  to  be 
doing,  were  he  called  from  life  within  the  recreation 
hour,  replied,  "I  would  wish  to  be  playing  this  game, 
because  I  began  it  through  obedience  and  therefore  I 
am  pleasing  God."  In  like  manner,  did  Sister  Mary 
Paul  acquit  herself  of  her  work  on  the  13th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  its  close  found  her  performing  to  the  letter  what 
obedience  had  been  requiring.  Since  "the  obedient  man 
shall  speak  of  victory,"  so  also  will  she  for  all  eternity. 
Victory  was  in  the  day's  spiritual  service,  victory  was 


150  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

in  the  exhortation  which  she  had  given  M.  F.  of  CaUs- 
toga,  an  exhortation  which  completed  her  religious 
work  among  the  children  and,  needless  to  say,  this  last 
advice  was,  and  ever  will  be,  cherished  by  the  recipient. 
School  work  had  received  no  less  attention  from  this 
faithful  custodian  of  the  class-room.  Everything  had 
been  prepared  for  the  morrow — papers  corrected  and 
graded  and  school  work  arranged.  Altar-breads  had 
been  left  ready  at  her  hand  for  the  morning's  Sacrifice. 
Sister  Mary  Paul's  work  was  done,  and  done  well;  her 
prayers  had  been  said,  her  sheaves  gathered,  and  St. 
Stanislaus  was  begging  her  speedy  entrance  to  the 
realm  of  saints.  The  Spoiler  came.  The  world  of 
sense  was  fast  wheeling  into  darkness,  leaving  her  only 
time  to  call  for  help. 

On  many  occasions  during  her  religious  life  did 
she  express  the  desire  that  God  might  send  the  friend 
of  her  heart  to  assist  her  when  death  came.  Answer- 
ing the  call  for  help,  this  friend  hastened  to  console 
her  in  the  few  conscious  moments  left.  Sister  Mary 
Paul  received  the  last  Sacraments,  and  pillowed  on 
her  friend's  strong  arm,  she  sank  into  deep  uncon- 
sciousness wherein  the  voice  of  friendship  could  no 
longer  penetrate;  nor  could  the  hand  of  friendship 
perform  aught  that  could  rob  the  weary  hours  of 
death's  portentous  calm. 

As  the  clock  marked  the  moment  when,  in  the  de- 
crees of  God,  the  sufferer  should  hear  the  words: 
"Come!  my  love,  the  rains  are  over,  the  winter  is 
gone!"  she  stirred  not  in  body  but  her  spirit  went 
forth   to   obey   His  invitation.     To   those   who  prayed 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  151 

beside  her,  she  seemed  to  have  passed  from  a  troubled 
dream  into  a  tranquil  sleep;  her  shapely  head  framed 
itself  in  its  pillow,  her  small  delicate  hands  lay  on  the 
coverlet,  her  features,  relaxing  from  the  brain  pressure 
of  the  past  eighteen  hours,  assumed  the  expression  of 
imperturbable  peace,  and  Sister  Mary  Paul  was  lost  to 
this  world. 

She  had  left  from  New  York  to  California  a  trail 
of  goodness — hardened  hearts  softened,  bad  habits 
changed  to  good,  occasions  of  sin  deserted;  new  means 
of  saving  souls  set  working,  neighbors  at  variance 
united:  this  was  the  grand  spiritual  scenery  along  the 
trail  of  this  high-souled  servant  of  God — "Their  works 
follow  them." 

And  you,  who  observe  the  fulfillment  of  a  dutiful 
life,  kneel  at  the  bier  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  and  see  how 
glorious  is  the  law  of  compensation  in  the  religious 
world.  For  the  one  whom  she  might  have  influenced, 
as  votary  of  the  world,  thousands  are  influenced  by 
her,  as  the  votary  of  religion;  for  was  she  not  pan- 
oplied by  God  and  by  the  great  Order  in  which  she 
had  served  Him?  Had  she  not  tasted  how  sweet  it 
is  to  serve,  and  tasting,  did  she  not  lure  others  to  the 
banquet  ? 

The  last  rites  over.  Sister  Mary  Paul's  remains  were 
placed  in  the  grave  beside  Mother  Alphonse  Costella. 
Between  the  interments  of  these  two  a  whole  genera- 
tion had  intervened. 

Prior  to  the  death  of  Mother  Alphonse,  a  new 
cemetery  had  been  purchased  by  Saint  Rose's  parish 
and  Mother  Alphonse  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  in- 


152  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

terred  therein.  At  that  time,  there  was  a  holy  rivalry 
as  to  which  plot  should  be  nearest  the  Sisters;  but  at 
Sister  Mary  Paul's  interment,  so  thickly  settled  had  be- 
come this  portion  of  God's  acre,  that  no  rivalry  was 
needed.  However,  sad  hearts  crowded  the  "green  hill- 
side," eager  to  behold  the  casket  wherein  lay  the  be- 
loved form  of  the  dead.  Atnidst  tears  and  sobs,  dust 
was  consigned  to  dust,  and  the  Maker  of  all  held  sway 
with  that  blessed  calm  which  turns  sorrow  into  resigna- 
tion and  the  sense  of  loss  into  hope  of  reunion  in  the 
Kingdom  of  God. 

Truly  did  Sister  Mary  Paul  become  one  of  our  Faith- 
ful Departed,  for  she  testified  it  by  the  favors  she  ob- 
tained for  the  loved  ones  of  her  immediate  family  as 
well  as  for  those  of  her  spiritual  one.  May  she,  in 
her  long  sleep  in  Calvary  cemetery  of  Santa  Rosa,  be 
ever  a  quiet  sentinel  to  those,  who  in  her  lifetime 
were  wont  to  say  that  her  admonition  regarding  the 
omission  of  a  Mass  or  any  sacred  duty,  was  urging 
them  to  be  faithful,  whenever  temptation  to  repeat  these 
serious  faults  presented  themselves. 

Her  charity  will  not  be  lessened  in  heaven  for,  en- 
lightened by  love,  our  sweet  Mother  Mary  and  the 
heavenly  inhabitants  will  be  love's  alUes,  and  the  work 
begun  upon  earth  by  this  holy  Ursuline  will  be  con- 
tinued in  powerful  impetration.  "Those  who  instruct 
others  unto  justice,  shall  shine  as  stars  for  all  eter- 
nity!" best  expresses  the  apotheosis  of  the  Apostolate 
of  Education  to  which,  as  Ursuline  Sister,  she  was 
called. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  153 

Following  is  a  tribute  taken  from  the  Santa  Rosa 
Press   Democrat : 

"Mother  Paul  of  Ursuline  College  Called  to  Rest. 

"Into  the  bright  sunshine  of  the  Eternal  life  the 
soul  of  sainted  Mother  Paul,  for  over  forty  years  a 
Sister  of  the  Ursuline  Community,  and  for  over  thirty 
years  connected  with  Ursuline  College  in  this  city, 
passed  away  on  Thursday  afternoon  at  five  o'clock. 
She  died  at  Elmhurst  Aicademy,  a  branch  of  Ursuline 
College  at  St.  Helena,  where  she  had  been  for  some 
time. 

"Not  only  will  Mother  Paul's  death  be  a  sad  blow 
to  those  who  have  been  associated  with  her  for  many 
years  in  the  devoted  work  of  the  Ursuline  Order,  but 
also  are  there  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
who,  having  come  under  her  kindly  influence — for 
kinder  soul  never  lived — will  learn  of  her  passing 
with  sincere  sorrow.  She  was  idolized  by  the  hun- 
dreds who  during  the  years  have  been  students  at  the 
Ursuline  College.  A  number  of  Santa  Rosa's  prom- 
inent Catholic  men  learned  their  first  lessons  at  the 
school  with  Mother  Paul  as  instructor  in  the  Boys' 
School,  a  department  work  at  the  College.  In  after 
life  they  never  lost  their  love  and  regard  for  her.  She 
was  always  glad  to  see  the  pupils  of  former  years 
return  to  their  Alma  Mater  in  the  dignity  of  mother- 
hood and  the  exaltation  of  true  womanhood. 

"Mother  Paul  was  a  charming  woman,  one  whom  it 
was  always  a  pleasure  to  meet.  She  had  a  remarkably 
sweet  disposition  and  a  concern  for  the  well-being  of 
others.     She  loved  to  be  in  active  service  in  the  Col- 


154  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

lege  faculty  and  management,  and  no  task  was  allotted 
to  her  but  what  was  happily  performed.  Her  influence 
for  good  has  gone  far  and  wide,  and  of  her  it  can  be 
truthfully  said  in  the  words  of  the  Scriptures: 

"  'Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  even 
so,  for  they  rest  from  labors  and  their  works  do  follow 
them.' 

"In  the  world  prior  to  assuming  the  veil  of  the 
Ursuline  Sisterhood  Mother  Paul  was  Miss  Margaret 
Morrissey.  She  came  of  an  old  and  distinguished  New 
York  family.  She  is  survived  by  several  relatives. 
One  brother  is  City  Engineer  Morrissey  of  Dunkirk, 
New  York.  The  Rev.  Father  J.  M.  Cassin,  rector  of 
St.  Rose's  Church  and  pastor  of  the  deceased  for  the 
past  twenty-two  years,  sent  him  a  telegram  Thursday 
night  informing  him  of  his  sister's  death.  Rev.  Father 
Cassin  paid  Mother  Paul  a  splendid  tribute  Thursday 
night  in  discussing  her  life  work. 

"Mother  Superioress  Angela  and  Sister  U  .  .  .  will 
accompany  the  remains  of  Mother  Paul  to  this  city 
today,  and  the  funeral  will  take  place  from  the  Church 
of  St.  Rose  to-morrow  morning.  There  will  be  a 
Solemn  Requiem  High  Mass,  celebrated  for  the  repose 
of  her  soul  by  Reverend  Father  Cassin,  assisted  by 
four  other  priests  and  the  interment  will  be  in  Calvary 
cemetery  in  the  plot  specially  set  aside  for  the  Ursu- 
line Community.  Mother  Paul  is  the  first  Sister  of 
the  Community  to  die  here  in  twenty-five  years,  the 
last  being  Mother  Alphonse." 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  155 

IN  MEMORIAM. 
(From  the   "Boston   Pilot.") 

A    PERFECT    DAY. 

Ay,  but  the  day  was  passing  fair; 

Descendant   of  some   sweet   Spring, 
Sent   out  by   God   through  wintry  air, 

A   lily-white   soul   to   bring — 

A  veiled   sanctity  she  lay 

In  deep  eternal  rest. 
Bright   angels   led   her   soul   away; 

Bright  joy  her  soul  caressed. 

O   love,   O   clasp   of  Jesus'   Hand! 

O  Rest  on  the  Savior's  Breast! 
O  wondrous  view  of  the  Promised   Land!  ! 

O  joy  to  be  one  of  its  blest! 

Thy  life  was  a  perfect  day,  O  Nun: 

Thy  Master's  work   complete — 
What  rapture  when  His  grand,  "Well  done!" 

Made  thy  heaven  with  joy  replete. 

So  rare  a  gem  thou  ill  couldst  spare, 

O    Earth,   that   hast   so   few — 
Will    angel    hands   with    loving   care 

Shape   other   gems    for   you? 

O  lift  your  jewel  casket.  Earth, 

Therein   will    Christ   replace 
The  gem  He  took,  nor  fear  a  dearth 

Among  His   shining  race. 


156  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 
Another  tribute  from  the  San  Francisco  Monitor: 
"the  end  of  a  perfect  day. 

"Thursday  at  Elmhurst  Academy,  St.  Helena,  as 
the  autumn  sun  slowly  sinking  over  the  western  hills 
of  Napa,  blazoned  their  vine-covered  slopes  with  the 
golden  glow  of  evening,  the  gentle  spirit  of  Mother 
Mary  Paul  passed  into  the  light  of  God's  eternal  day. 
But  a  few  moments  before  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
health,  she  knelt  in  loving  adoration  before  our  Divine 
Lord  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  and  His  summons 
seemed  an  answer  to  her  rapturous  prayer.  An 
ecstatic  smile  illumined  the  dying  countenance  as 
though  at  the  close  of  a  perfect  day  her  eager  soul 
already  beheld  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 

"Miss  Margaret  Morrissey,  in  religion  Sister  Mary 
Paul,  entered  the  Ursuline  order  thirty-five  years  ago 
and  was  one  of  the  zealous  nuns  that  one  year  later 
left  the  Mother  House  of  the  Ursulines,  St.  Martins, 
Brown  County,  Ohio,  to  found  at  Santa  Rosa  in  distant 
California  the  first  convent  of  the  Order  west  of  the 
mountains. 

"Like  the  pioneer  of  the  Ursulines  in  America, 
Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation,  whose  name  is  in- 
separably linked  with  the  early  heroic  history  of 
Canada,  these  devoted  Sisters  left  friends  and  associa- 
tions dear  to  them  that  they  might  aid  in  teaching  the 
mystic  beauties  of  faith  to  a  land  that  dreamed  only 
of  gold. 

"One  of  a  gifted  family,  Mother  Mary  Paul  had 
received  an  excellent  education.     She  was  a  mathemati- 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  157 

cian  of  marked  ability  and  was  well  versed  in  Latin 
and  other  languages.  For  many  years  she  taught  these 
subjects  to  the  senior  classes  at  Ursuline  College. 

"From  the  beginning,  as  teacher  in  the  parochial 
school,  Mother  Mary  Paul  was  intimately  connected 
with  the  parish  of  St.  Rose,  and  many  men  and  women 
to-day  owe  what  is  best  in  them  to  the  early  training 
received  from  her.  Others,  too,  knew  the  benefit  of 
her  kindly  counsel:  no  throbbing  heart,  no  aching 
brain  appealed  in  vain  to  Mother  Paul.  Of  her  it 
may  be  truly  said: 

*'The  tidal  wave  of  deeper  souls 
Into  our  inmost  being  rolls. 
And  lifts  one  unawares 
Out  of  all  meaner  cares. 

"Several  years  ago  Mother  Paul  suffered  a  stroke  of 
paralysis  from  which,  however,  she  completely  recover- 
ed and  she  had  been  engaged  in  active  work  at  Elm- 
hurst  Academy  for  some  time  previous  to  her  death. 

"Rev.  Mother  Superior  Angela,  Rev.  Mother 
Agatha,  and  Sister  E.  .  .  .  escorted  the  casket  from  St. 
Helena  to  Santa  Rosa  where  the  mortal  form  sur- 
rounded by  love's  last  offering,  beautiful  flowers,  lay 
in  St.  Rose's  Church  until  Saturday  morning.  A 
Requiem  high  Mass  was  celebrated  at  that  time  by 
Rev.  John  M.  Cassin,  rector  of  the  parish,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Father  Casey  of  San  Francisco,  Rev.  Father 
Fletcher  of  Petaluma,  Rev.  Maurice  Barry,  Cloverdale, 
and  Rev.  John  R.  Cantillon  of  Sebastopol.  The  Sis- 
ters'   choir   of    Ursuline    College   rendered    the    music. 


158  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

and  Miss  Anna  Smith  of  Cloverdale,  a  former  pupil  of 
Mother  Paul,  presided  at  the  organ. 

"Rev.  Father  Cassin  spoke  of  the  noble  work  done 
by  Mother  Mary  Paul  for  many  years  in  the  parish  and 
eulogized  the  spirit  that,  obedient  to  the  higher  call, 
did  great  things  for  God.  'Other  women,'  he  said, 
'have  wrought  wondrous  beauty  in  silver  and  gold 
and  marble,  but  Mother  Mary  Paul  molded  immortal 
souls.'  Father  Cassin  referred  touchingly  to  the 
kindly  heart  of  one  well  worthy  to  rank  in  the  great 
army  of  Catholic  Sisterhoods,  the  noblest  the  world  will 
ever  know. 

"As  the  casket  was  reverently  borne  from  the  altar 
of  that  God  whom  she  had  long  served  so  faithfully  and 
lovingly  in  the  land  of  the  living,  voices  vibrant  with 
emotion  poured  forth  the  words,  'And  Thou,  O  Jesus, 
Art  All  Mine.'  In  the  distance,  the  bell  of  St.  Ur- 
sula's chapel  tolled  a  mournful  farewell  from  Sister 
associates,  who  while  life  lasts  will  cherish  the  memory 
of  Mother  Mary  Paul:  for  'the  just  shall  be  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance:  [she]  shall  not  be  afraid  for  any 
evil  report.' " 


LETTERS  WRITTEN  BY  SISTER  MARY  PAUL. 


Dear  

A  most  happy  Feast!  May  it  be  a  foretaste  of  the 
beautiful  heavenly  Feast  towards  which  we  are  making 
such  strides!  Who  listened  with  joy  and  executed  with 
exultant  joy  the  command  of  the  Master,  when  He  said, 
"Go  forth  from  thy  father's  house  into  a  strange  land"? 
who,  but  you  ,  our  "Angel  of  Napa  Valley!" 

For  many  years,  sweet  imitator  of  St.  Theresa,  you 
have  lifted  up  to  the  unthinking  world  the  snowy  banners 
of  your  march  heavenwards  and  bravely  you  have  marched 
under  the  leadership  of  your  Divine  Captain.  With 
poverty,  chastity,  and  obedience  emblazoned  on  your 
shield,  march  on  with  your  Leader,  Christ,  the  most 
beautiful  among  the  sons  of  men!  He  will  show  you  the 
direct  way,  and  He  has  in  His  loving  care  the  reward  of 
your  labors.  How  often  has  your  banner  inspired  me  to 
reach  for  things  that  cannot  perish!  Away  up  in  the  dis- 
tance I  think  I  hear,  "Veni  Sponsa  Christi"  urging  you 
and  me  to  make  haste.  What  a  crown  He  intends  to  lay 
on  the  head  of  His  Spouse,  who  on  October  15,  1912,  will 
have  offered  to  Him  the  merits  of  so  many  years.  May 
the  holy  Angels  keep  you,  an  earthly  angel,  in  all  your 
ways  and  may  my  poor  prayers  obtain  for  you  an  increase 
of  grace  and  love  of  God!  I  have  you  down  in  the 
"Round  Tower  of  my  heart  and  there  I  shall  keep  you 
forever  and  a  day,"  so  do  not  try  to  escape  even  though 
you  are  so  detached  from  human  ties. 
Your    loving    Sister, 

SISTER    MARY    PAUL. 


Dear  J  

You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Mother  Superior  has  sent 
me  to  St.  Helena  for  a  few  days*  rest.  I  came  over  with 
three  of  the  children,  who  are  to  remain  during  the  vaca- 


i6o  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

tion;  one  however,  expects  to  go  home  for  part  of  the 
free  time.  There  arc  only  two  Sisters  over  here  now, 
Sisters  A  .  .  .  and  F  .  .  .,  and  Mother  will  send 
for  me  just  as  soon  as  she  receives  definite  word  regard- 
ing the  annual  retreat.  Just  to  think  one  whole  year  has 
flown  past  since  Mother  and  I  were  travelling  east,  and  oh! 
what  a  glorious  trip  that  was!  Perhaps  God  made  it  such 
in  preparation  for  the  crosses  awaiting  dear  Mother's  re- 
turn. 

The  Sisters  who  were  ill  the  same  time  that  I  was,  are 
quite  well  now,  but  I  think  that  they  will  never  be  strong. 
It  is  just  as  well,  however,  as  it  makes  us  reflect  that  we 
have  not  here  a  lasting  City.  I  never  realized  the  fleet- 
ness  of  time  so  much  as  I  do  now.  Time  is  only  a  short 
period  of  probation  given  us  to  prepare  for  our  true  life  in 
Eternity. 

God  bless  you  all  and  keep  you  free  from  the  con- 
tamination of  this  wicked  world.  Soon  we  shall  meet  in 
Heaven.     "In  Heaven  we  know  our  own." 

Do  not  worry  about  darling  M.  She  will  get  stronger 
when  she  finishes  her  growth.  Are  you  not  consoled  by 
the  fact  that  she  is  an  angel  in  human  form?  May  she 
remain  so  till  she  takes  her  flight  to  the  Bosom  of  God! 

To-day  is  a  Western  holiday,  the  Admission  Day  of 
our  golden  State  into  the  Union.  I  am  delighted  to  spend 
a  part  of  it  with  those  whom  I  love  next  to  God  and  my 
dear   community. 

I  received  dear  K's  letter.  It  made  my  heart  rejoice 
as  do  all  her  letters,  because  they  are  so  much  like  J's. 
They  tell  me  just  what  I  desire  most  to  know — that  all 
my  dear  ones  are  well  and  also  what  each  is   doing. 

I  am  delighted  to  know  that  you  all  saw  Mother  A's 
relatives  in  Rochester,  especially  Rev.  Father  N.  I  hope 
that  dear  J.  will  see  him  often  and  become  one  of  his 
bosom  friends.  Clerical  friends  if  true  to  their  high  call- 
ing in  all  respects,  are  treasures  which  neither  gold  nor 
influence   can  purchase. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  i6i 

For  the  past  three  days  there  has  been  a  Vintage 
Festival  in  St.  Helena.  Our  graduate,  Miss  F  .  .  .,  a 
beautiful  Italian,  has  been  chosen  Queen.  This  gracious 
Queen  was  inspired  to  call  on  the  Sisters.  Accordingly, 
yesterday  in  response  to  the  door-bell  ring,  the  sister  open- 
ing the  door  was  greeted  by  a  handsome  courtier,  an 
attendant  of  the  Queen,  saying,  "The  Queen  wishes  to  pay 
her  respects  to  the  Sisters."  Presto!  a  number  of  autos 
appeared  on  the  grounds.  Mother  went  down  the  steps  to 
the  royal  equipage  and  saluted  the  Queen  and  her  court. 
Queen  Inez  was  every  inch  a  Queen — nature's  Queen  and 
an  excellent   Catholic  one. 

At  10:30  A.  M.  the  pageant  will  pass  by  the  Convent 
along  Main  Street.  It  will  be  three  miles  long.  Strange, 
dear  people,  that  we  left  the  world  for  God,  and  yet  how 
much  of  the  beautiful  does  not  that  same  God  show  us 
without   our   leaving   the   grounds. 

I  will  be  glad  if  dear  J.  and  K.  live  in  R.  It  is  a 
beautiful  City  Think  well  before  you  make  a  change,  for 
you  know  that  J's  high  position  is  not  lasting,  and  even 
were  it  permanent,  my  dear  princely  brother  cannot  stand 
many  more  years  of  such  strenuous  work,  notwithstanding 
he  looks  so  well.  No  doubt  this  is  due  to  his  pure  and 
upright  living  with  the  love  and  tenderness  of  the  best  of 
wives  and  the  consolation  of  the  most  charming  of  chil- 
dren. 

Your    loving    sister, 

S.   M.   P. 


Thursday,    May    25,    1899. 
Dearest   Mother: 

What  an  exciting  day  this  is  at  home,  and  what  ad- 
jective can  fully  describe  to-night!  Children,  parents, 
friends — all  gathered  for  a  few  hours  in  the  assembly  hall 
of  the  College  to  enjoy  and  to  bear  testimony  to  the  great 
work  of  the  Sisters,   God's   holy  workers. 

A    few   hours,   then    an    empty    hall,    but    each   occupant 


i62  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

has  taken  with  him  or  her  a  something-,  he  knows  not 
what,  that  will  bear  fruit.  He  will  cast  a  grateful  glance 
back  to  the  vacant  hall  situated  as  it  is  under  the  dear 
Chapel  where  The  Master  from  the  Tabernacle  ever 
watches  those  who  come  and  go;  and  He  blesses  most 
those  who  love  the  sisters  best. 

D  .  .  .  arrived  between  1  and  1:30  P.  M.  He 
looked  fatigued,  so  did  "Duke,"  the  best  of  horses.  We 
unpacked  the  sweet-faced  statue  of  our  Blessed  Mother. 
How  kind  of  you  to  think  of  sending  it  just  now,  during 
the  whirlpool  of  excitement  incident  to  the  closing  of 
school!  The  statue  is  already  in  the  chapel  on  its  neat 
pedestal:  on  each  side  of  the  statue  I  placed  a  vase  of 
beautiful  La  France  and  Lamarck  roses  and  in  front,  two 
fancy  candlesticks. 

To-night  we  shall  have  our  May  devotions  near  that 
same  dear  statue  before  which  you  have  so  often  knelt; 
but  to-night,  you,  surrounded  by  many  strangers,  will  be  in 
St.  Ursula's  Hall:  shall  we  forget  you  and  fail  to  pray  for 
your  success?  Even  though  we  should  do  so,  our  blessed 
Mother   will    not. 

Lovingly, 

SISTER    M.    PAUL. 


Santa  Rosa,   November  23,   1899. 
My   fond   B     .     .     . 

Congratulations  in  the  new  state  of  life  upon  which 
you  have  entered!  May  the  Divine  Master,  who  was 
present  at  your  joyous  nuptials  and  who  received  through 
His  holy  representative,  the  dear  officiating  Passionist, 
your  sacred  contract,  remain  ever  with  you  and  yours  by 
His  holy  presence,  making  you  an  Angel  of  peace,  of 
comfort,  and  of  consolation  over  your  household,  and 
may  He  give  you  a  foretaste  of  that  happiness  awaiting 
you  in  the  life  to  come! 

It  was  a  joy  to  me  to  learn  that  you  were  married  in 
dear    St.    Mary's,    the    sacred    church    of    our    tender    years: 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  163 

and  what  renders  it  more  sacred  is  the  fact  that  there 
took  place  the  holy  and  solemn  rites  over  our  dear  saintly 
father,  whose  noble  example  you  are  so  carefully  follow- 
ing. 

How  consoling  that  our  dear  good  brother  J.  was  with 
you!  I  think  often  of  each  one  of  you  and  marvel  at  the 
tenderness  of  our  heavenly  Father  in  keeping  you  all  to- 
gether. Our  saintly  mother  must  be  the  holy  magnet 
which  attracts  all  our  loved  ones  in  or  near   Dunkirk. 

I  hope  that  some  day  you  will  come  to  the  Golden 
West  to  see  the  sister  who  so  loves  and  venerates  each 
fond  brother  and  dear  sister  and  who  cherishes  an  intense 
veneration  for  our  sweet  mother.  How  proud  she  must 
have  felt  to  see  you  married  in  the  Church  which  she 
visits  so  often!  I  will  pray  often  for  you,  dear  brother, 
and   I  desire   that  your  life   be   one   of  sunshine. 

Please  write  me  a  Xmas  letter. 

Again  extending  to  you  my  warmest  congratulations 
and  hoping  to  see  you  before  I  die, 

Your  loving  sister, 

S.    M.    P. 


Santa    Rosa,    April    19,    1900. 
Dear  J     .     .    . 

I  received  the  Utica  "News"  containing  your  photo 
just  as  I  was  looking  forward  to  an  Easter  letter  from 
you.  I  find  you  changed  but  it  would  not  be  natural  were 
it  not  so.  Your  features  bear  the  same  look  that  char- 
acterized your  boyhood,  and  now  that  you  have  grown 
into  noble  manhood  and  have  grave  responsibilities  not 
only  to  your  own  but  also  to  your  fellow  men,  and  espe- 
cially that  you  have  acquitted  yourself  very  well,  I  am 
delighted  and  proud  of  my  dear  brother.  The  paper 
states  that  you  are  the  most  popular  of  City  Officials. 
Thank  God!  My  greatest  delight  is  that  I  know  you  have 
gained  that  popularity  (am  I  not  right?)  by  purity  and 
uprightness  of   conduct.     These   are   means  that   will   make 


164  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

you  not  only  popular  amongst  men,  but  also  among  the 
saints  of  God  whose  company  you  will  one  day  join  with 
your  fond  and  loving  wife,  your  saintly  mother  and  all  your 
fond  brothers  and  sisters,  not  forgetting  our  dear  sainted 
father,  whose  footsteps  you  are  so  bravely  following. 
Yes;  dear  brother,  you  are  not  called  to  the  priesthood, 
but  you  can  be  an  apostle;  for  the  silent  influence  of  good 
example  will  be  powerful  among  those  non-Catholic  friends 
of  yours.  An  old  pagan  philosopher  whose  writings  still 
live,  says  that,  "words  persuade,  but  example  draws." 

I    will    not   forget    you    in    my    prayers    on    the    feast    of 
your   patron   and   mine,    Saint   Paul   of   the    Cross.     .     .     . 

Devotedly, 

S.    M.    P. 


Sunday,  May  31,   1903. 
My   fond    B     .     .     . 

Last  Friday  your  long,  kind  and  most  welcome  letter 
was  received.  It  was  written  on  May  4th,  which  date 
is  sacred  to  me,  as  it  is  the  anniversary  of  my  holy  pro- 
fession. This  fact  not  only  added  joy  to  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  but  also  a  tenderness  which  only  sacred  mem- 
ories  can   recall. 

So  God  has  blessed  you  with  another  little  angel! 
God  bless  him  and  make  him,  if  possible,  a  greater  man 
than  his  father!  I  am  delighted  to  learn  that  you  have 
called  him  James  Paul.  St.  Paul  of  the  Cross  will  have 
one  more  client  added  to  his  list.  Be  thankful  to  Al- 
mighty God  for  all  His  special  favors  and  graces  to  the 
Morrissey  family.  To  you  He  has  been  most  kind  in 
giving  you  so  gentle,  so  loving,  and  so  genial  a  companion. 
Be  kind  to  her  at  all  times.  I  cannot  imagine  you,  dear 
J.,  anything  else  but  benevolent.  Still,  you  may  be  blessed 
with  a  long  life,  and  no  life  is  free  from  trials  and  contra- 
dictions, which  are  designedly  Godsends,  as  tests  of  our 
metal  in  the  crucible  of  endurance,  and  also  reminders  to 
us  that  we  are  made  for   Heaven. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  165 

The  two  darlings  which  make  your  heart  rejoice  are 
lent  to  you,  not  given,  and  some  day  you  must  return 
them   to    God   who    created   them   for    Heaven. 

Do  not  be  troubled.  Those  court  decisions  are  annoy- 
ing but  make  every  day  an  invocation  to  our  Lady  of 
Good  Counsel,  then  say  what  you  think  and  God  will  take 
care  of  the  issue.  "Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel,  pray  for 
me,"  is  a  short  but  efficacious  aspiration.  Say  it  often 
and  note  results.  Will  it  tax  you  too  much  if  I  request 
you  to  learn  that  short  "Memorare  of  St.  Bernard"?  In 
times  of  pressing  business  and  annoying  circumstances,  it 
may  be  the  only  special  prayer  that  you  will  have  time  to 
say.  But  say  it,  no  matter  how  hard  the  trial  may  be;  it 
will  bring  you  a  rich  reward. 

You  .cannot  feel  more  delighted  than  I  to  know  that 
you  are  in  your  new  home.  It  must  be  a  Paradise  on 
earth.  I  remember  the  location  well.  Everything  about 
it  was  pleasing  to  me.  I  did  not  see  the  interior  but  the 
exterior  speaks  for  it.  You  told  me  it  had  every  modern 
improvement,  so  I  can  imagine  how  commodious  and  con- 
venient it  is.  Thank  God!  You  must  not  regret  that  I  did 
not  see  it.  My  visit  among  you  remains  without  a  flaw  to 
mar  its  joy. 

You  gave  me  such  a  beautiful  account  of  all  the  dear 
ones  at  home  that  I  cannot  express  in  words  my  grat- 
itude: the  heart  speaks  and  feels  a  language  that  words 
cannot  express.  Dear  M  .  .  .,  what  a  comfort,  what 
a  mother  she  has  been  to  us  all!  And  dear  J  .  .  ., 
is  there  not  something  in  him  far  above  the  ordinary? 
There  is  something  in  the  name  John:  it  means  the 
gracious  gift  of  God.  It  was  John,  our  Lord's  gift  to  His 
own  Mother  on  Calvary's  mount,  who  stood  by  the  Cross 
with  Mary,  our  Immaculate  Mother,  when  the  other  Apos- 
tles had  fled:  so,  too,  my  dearest  brother  watched  the 
closing  moments  of  our  saintly  mother  and  still  remains 
with  the  other  fond  ones  in  the  old  homestead.  Time  is 
fleeting.      Soon    it    will    be    no    more.      Then    will    Eternity 


i66  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

unfold    before    us    and    we    shall    be    again    reunited    never 
more  to  know  pain  or  parting. 

Try  to  hear  holy  Mass  on  the  25th  prox.  Last  year  I 
had  the  great  pleasure  of  hearing  it  with  you  and  offering 
my  Holy  Communion  for  you,  a  favor  I  never  thought 
would  have  been  granted  me.  God  is  so  good  and  His 
merciful  ways  manifold. 

Your  loving  sister, 

S.   M.   P. 


My  dear  ones: 

To-morrow  evening  we  shall  begin  our  annual  retreat 
and  your  devoted  sister  cannot  permit  the  day  to  pass 
without  sending  you  one  and  all  a  few  loving  lines. 
Reverend  Father  S.,  S.  J.,  has  been  appointed  to  conduct 
the    exercises    of   retreat. 

To-day  is  Reverend  Father  C's  birthday.  He  is  sixty- 
four  and  as  active  as  a  young  priest,  notwithstanding  his 
many  and  arduous  labors  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  We 
are  having  a  little  celebration  in  his  honor. 

The  Sisters  from  St.  Helena  have  come  home  for 
retreat. 

Yesterday  Mother  A.  went  over  to  St.  Helena  with 
two  sisters,  who  are  to  remain  during  the  retreat,  Sisters 
M.  M.  and  P.,  the  latter  Mother's  cousin.  Mother  invited 
me  to  take  the  drive  over  with  her,  but  I  told  her  that 
I  was  afraid  she  would  leave  me  there  and  so  deprive  me 
of  the  retreat.  Mother  laughed,  and  so  I  am  here  in 
dear  Santa  Rosa  full  of  unmolested  and  delightful  antic- 
ipation. 

I  often  think  of  dear  little  M  .  .  .  and  wonder  if 
by  the  solemn  act  of  religious  Profession  she  will  ever 
be  a  Spouse  of  our  dear  Lord.  If  I  could  convince  her  of 
the  sweets  of  the  sacrificial  life  that  God  has  bestowed  on 
your  fond  sister,  how  earnestly  would  I  plead  to  have  her 
come  to   California,  the  land  of  sunshine  and   flowers. 

I  have  been  under  the  most  prudent  and  the  most  kind- 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  167 

hearted  of  Superiors.  Mother  A  .  .  .  goes  out  of  office 
this  month:  were  she  not  so  fatigued  and  in  need  of  rest 
from  so  onerous  a  responsibility,  I  think  we  would  ask  to 
have  her  re-elected.  Please  to  tell  darling  M  .  .  .  that  I 
think  we  shall  never  get  another  Mother  A  .  .  .;  still, 
if  M  .  .  .  gives  herself  to  Almighty  God  without  re- 
serve, not  looking  for  perfection  in  this  vale  of  tears,  God 
will  supply  in  her  regard  another  such  mother  in  prudence 
and  tenderness  and  rightmindedness,  which  virtues  are  rare 
and  God-given. 

Devotedly, 

S.    M.    P. 


Dear    .    .    . 

Now  I  shall  travel  to  30  W.  4th  Street.  J  ...  is 
at  home.  O  dear  gentle  K  .  .  .  and  noble  J  .  .  . 
How  are  you  both?  Well,  thank  God,  and  fonder  of  each 
other  than  ever,  and  here's  holy  dignified  M  .  .  .! 
This  paragraph  is  jaunty,  is  it  not? 

Now  I  must  sermonize.  Remember,  dear  brother,  you 
cannot  keep  the  Faith  untarnished  in  this  materialistic  and 
socialistic  age  without  the  constant  weapon  of  daily  prayer. 

Mother  has  just  been  called  over  to  Santa  Rosa  to  sec 
Rev.  Father  Casey  who  is  going  to  dear  old  Ireland  to 
visit  his  home.  I  feel  Mother's  going  just  as  much  as  I 
did  when  at  home  with  you  on  my  trip;  Mother  went  to 
Rochester;  you  remember?  And  I  so  longed  for  her  re- 
turn? I  cannot  tell  you,  dear  people,  what  a  tender 
mother  she  has  been  to  me  all  during  my  long  religious 
life.  God  was  merciful  to  me  to  send  me  to  a  convent 
where  such  a  noble  woman  was  Superior.  May  our  dear 
sweet  Lord  send  to  darling  M  .  .  .  such  another,  when 
God   calls   the   child   to  be   His   chosen   Spouse. 

This  last  scholastic  year  in  St.  Helena  (if  I  may  make 
a  comparison)  has  been  marked  with  God's  special  blessing 
and  tenderness,  a  year  of  holy  loving  peace.  Our  Con- 
vent   here    is    nestled    among    the    foothills    of    the    Coast 


i68  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

Range;  this  year  dear  Mother  A  .  .  .  has  been  our 
guiding  star,  and  the  St.  Helenaites  are  happy  to  be 
under   her   fostering   care. 

With  love, 

S.   M.   P. 


Feb.   22,    1911. 
My  own  beloved  sister: 

As  this  is  a  holiday  I  can  spend  a  part  of  the  time 
with  you.  We  often  speak  of  our  wonderful  trip  East, 
and  the  pleasure  we  experienced  in  meeting  our  dear  ones. 
God   bless   and   keep   them  in   good   health   and   spirits! 

When  I  want  to  have  a  good  laugh,  I  recall  to  my  mind 
the  photo  which  represents  my  dear  sweet  L,,  looking  up 
with  closed  eyes!  (An  Irish  Bull.)  Doesn't  she  look 
comical? 

Please  to  tell  dear  J  .  .  .  that  his  watch  is  keeping 
excellent  time.  I  have  permission  to  use  it,  and  I  find 
it  a  great  convenience,  especially  in  timing  my  spiritual 
reading  and  in  making  connections  from  one  duty  to  another. 
May  God  bless  J.  and  keep  him  holy.  I  send  the  Pas- 
sionist  Fathers  now  and  then  a  postal,  picturing  some 
beautiful  natural  scenery  of  California.  Thus  do  I  honor 
dear  Reverend  Father  Hugh  Barr  of  blessed  memory  and 
dear  Father  Peter  whose  kindness  to  our  saintly  mother 
is   always   remembered. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  a  clipping  from  the  Santa  Rosa 
"Press  Democrat."  The  young  priest  of  whom  the  paper 
writes,  Rev.  J.  T.  .  .  .,  C.  S.  P.,  was  one  of  our  pupils. 
He  says  that  when  I  prepared  him  for  Confirmation  I 
gave  him  the  honor  of  reading  the  Act  of  Renewal  of 
Baptismal  Promises.  We  are  proud  of  him.  As  a  little 
boy  we  noticed  he  was  above  the  ordinary;  hence  Mother 
A  .  .  .  advised  him  to  go  to  College,  which  he  did, 
and  now  he  has  heard  the  "Tu  es  Sacerdos"  and  he  prom- 
ises  great  things   in  his   holy  calling. 

S.    M.    P. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  169 

The  little  Margery  so  often  mentioned  in  the  letters  of 
Sister  Mary  Paul,  since  the  demise  of  her  beloved  aunt, 
has  written  the  following,  which  may  be  of  interest  in 
demonstrating  how  prayers  are  answered,  piety  instilled,  and 
aspirations  for  the   religious   life   fostered: 

Dear  Mother  A.: 

Last  Thursday  was  my  fifteenth  birthday  and  you 
know  that  I  want  to  go  to  the  convent  when  I  am  sixteen. 
I  feel  as  though  I  could  not  stay  in  this  world  a  single 
day  after  June  First,  1916.  Please  to  write  and  tell  me 
all  about  the  Ursulines. 

Last  Sunday  evening  we  had  a  procession  and  May- 
crowning  in  our  Church.  This  evening  they  are  to  have 
another  procession  to  celebrate  Corpus  Christi.  Five  of 
our  children  will  take  part  in  both.     .     .     . 

I  was  obliged  to  stop  writing  last  night  and  go  to 
the  procession;  so  I  waited  until  after  school  to-day  to 
finish    this    letter.      The    procession    was    very    beautiful. 

Examinations  come  next  week.  I  take  English,  Alge- 
bra, German,  Biology,  Writing,  and  Drawing.  I  have  little 
time  to  myself  these  days.  I  am  obliged  to  practice  an 
hour  daily  on  the  piano. 

Aunt  S.  sent  me  the  Autobiography  of  the  Little 
Flower  of  Jesus  and  I  have  become  greatly  interested  in 
her. 

Lovingly  yours, 

MARGERY. 


St.   Helena,  Easter  Monday,  April  3,  1899. 
To  the  dear  Sisters  in  Santa  Rosa: 

I  tender  heartfelt  Easter  greetings  to  each  of  my  dear 
sisters,  as  if  named,  and  trust  that  the  angelic  strains  of 
the  Pascal  season  will  be  ever  audible  till  "the  day  dawn 
and  the  morning  star  rise."  We  are  all  well  and  grateful 
to  you  for  sending  our  beloved  Mother  for  Easter.  Your 
sacrifice,    dear   Sisters,  was   among   our   Easter  joys,   and   I 


lyo  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

will   not   say   how   Mother   has   enjoyed   the   trip.     Let   the 
account  from  her  own  unselfish  lips  be   your  reward. 

On  Holy  Saturday  we  had  Mass  in  the  convent. 
Reverend  Father  R  .  .  .,  S.  J.,  was  assisting  Reverend 
Father  B  .  .  .,  hence,  to  our  spiritual  delight  we  had 
Easter  by  anticipation  in  our  chapel.  Reverend  Father 
R  .  .  .  called  to  see  us  and  seemed  pleased  to  meet 
us   here. 

On  Palm  Sunday  the  Parish  Church  was  beautifully 
and  lavishly  decorated.  It  was  a  small  reminder  of  the 
entrance  into  Jerusalem.  The  Sanctuary  foliage  comprised 
large  feathery  palms  eight  and  nine  feet  high,  magnolia 
branches,  and  long  lacy  branches  of  the  olive  tree.  One 
could  almost  see  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  riding  through 
them.  Then  came  the  sad  thought  of  fickle  man,  who  in 
a  few  days  after  so  grand  a  display,  changed  their  words 
of  praise  to  words  of  condemnation.  At  the  Three  Hours' 
Agony  on    Good    Friday   I   prayed   for   all   your    intentions. 

Since  the  rain,  Elmhurst  is  more  beautiful  than  ever. 
The  trees  and  flowers  and  shrubs  and  vines,  each  with  its 
peculiar  coloring,  shape  and  size,  bears  the  impress  of  the 
Master's  Almighty   Hand. 

I  will  not  tell  you  anything  about  the  school  as  Mother 
will  tell  you  everything.  Dear  Father  C.  sent  us  a  pretty 
postal  with  the  season's  cheery  Alleluias. 

Your  affectionate  sister,  in  our  Lord, 

SISTER   M.   PAUL. 


My    dear    Brother   J     .     .     . 

I  have  just  finished  re-reading  the  clipping  from  the 
Evening  Observer  which  came  to-day — "Honor  for  Dun- 
kirk   Man." 

May  God  protect  and  bless  you!  How  delighted  your 
saintly  mother  and  father  would  be,  had  they  the  happiness 
of  seeing  their  son  J.,  so  exalted  in  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  the  people. 

They   look    down   upon   you    from    their    high    throne    in 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  171 

Heaven  and  rejoice  with  me  and  all  our  loved  ones.  I 
remember  you  in  dear  old  Sheridan  Center;  as  children, 
we  wanted  you  to  be  a  priest  of  God,  but  that  special 
honor  I  trust  is  reserved  for  your  precious  darlings.  May 
God  give  them  the  sublime  vocation  of  being  called  to  the 
priesthood,  is  the  ardent  desire  of  your  loving  sister  in  far 
California.  You  my  dear  brother  are  a  priest  in  your  good 
and  holy  life,  but  not  of  God's  Anointed.  You  are  now 
a  member  of  the  A.  S.  C.  E.  How  did  you  win  that 
honor?  You  won  it  not  only  through  the  public  ac- 
knowledgment of  your  justly  merited  work  but  also  by  the 
purity   and   uprightness    of   your   conduct. 

Continue,  dear  brother,  to  work  like  a  priest  among 
your  non-Catholic  friends  and  teach  them  by  your  silent, 
pure,  and  noble  life  the  ways  of  God.  No  wonder,  dear 
J.,  you  are  rising  on  the  ladder  of  fame  with  two  Mothers 
in  Heaven.  Did  not  our  earthly  mother  receive  you  from 
our  heavenly  Mother  on  the  glorious  Feast  of  Her  As- 
sumption into  Heaven?  May  my  dear  brother  rise  on  the 
ladder  of  perfection  till  he  reach  the  Bosom  of  God  where 
he   will  rest   for  all   Eternity! 

Lovingly, 

S.   M.  P. 


In  connection  with  the  Jubilee  trip  of  Sr.  Mary  Paul, 
the   following  "Welcome"   was   received   from   St.   Martins: 

My  dear   Sister   A     .     .     . 

At  last!  at  last!  I  reach  my  arms  to  you  and  yours 
across  the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  old  Ohio  State,  and  bid 
you  welcome  to  Brown  Co.!  Welcome  home!  and  indeed 
if  you  had  brought  your  whole  Community  of  Santa  Rosa, 
we  would  find  room  for  them!  We  are  all  impatience  to 
have  you.  I  enclose  some  postals  and  letters  that  have 
come  for  you,  so  I  felt  sure  you  must  have  fully  decided 
to  come.  I  have  written  to  Oak  St.,  that  you  will  be  there 
on  Sunday,  and  I  hope  you  will  write  and  let  Sister  Fidelis 
know   by  what   train   you  will    come   in,   so   that   they   may 


172  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

have  some  one  meet  you  at  the  depot.  You  will  find  at 
Oak  St.,  some  that  you  know  well,  Sisters  Gonzaga, 
Helena,  John  Berchmans,  Louise,  Alexis,  and  Angela.  I 
will  write  Sister  F     .     .     .     myself  to  await  your  coming. 

I  expect  to  take  solid  comfort  out  of  your  visit.  Sister 
Helena  has  just  heard  of  the  death  of  her  brother,  Dr. 
Frank  Hines. 

Now,  my  dear  Sister,  au  revoir!  We  shall  await  you 
with  impatience. 

Devotedly, 

S.   M. 


Santa    Rosa,    Aug.    15,    1909. 

A  thrice  happy  birthday,  my  dear  brother  J.  What 
a  gift  you  were  to  our  dear  parents!  Surely  our  blessed 
Mother  wished  to  endow  them  with  something  worthy  of 
her  grand  feast,  and  behold!  she  made  them  rejoice,  be- 
cause a  son  was  "born  into  the  world!"  Your  birthday 
comes  on  a  day  that  makes  us  forget  that  our  heavenly 
Mother  bears  the  title  of  Mater  Dolorosa,  because  the 
Assumpta  est  Maria,  reiterated  in  the  day's  office  makes 
us   think  only  of  her   glories. 

To-day  Mother  has  gone  to  St.  Helena  on  a  sad  mis- 
sion; namely,  to  bring  back  with  her  Sister  A  .  .  . 
whose  father,  a  Santa  Rosa  resident,  has  just  passed  into 
the  Home  of  the  blessed.  On  the  day  of  his  burial  the 
Sisters'  Choir  will  sing  the  Requiem,  a  consolation  for  the 
bereaved  family,  who  like  you,  my  dear  people,  have  given 
a  member  to   our  Lord  to  the  religious  life. 

So  many  wayside  graces  come  to  the  consecrated 
spouses  of  Christ  that  we  are  carried,  so  to  speak,  trust- 
fully in  His  Arms,  and  our  relatives  share  in  our  consola- 
tions and  heavenly  favors.  May  He  bless  you  forever 
and  ever. 

Devotedly, 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Gross  173 

Santa   Rosa,   Feb.    1909. 
My  darling  little  M.: 

You  shall  have  a  letter  all  to  yourself.  God  bless  and 
keep  you  all  for  Himself!  I  was  glad  to  hear  that  you  all 
had  your  throats  blessed  on  the  feast  of  St.  Blase.  Rev. 
Father  C.  came  over  to  the  Convent  and  we  had  the  same 
blessing  from   his   consecrated   hands. 

How  are  papa  and  mama  spending  the  winter?  I  hope 
they  are  free  from  colds.  And  how  are  your  brothers? 
I  can  see  them  all  so  distinctly,  especially  brave  little  T. 
May  the  Divine  Infant  Jesus  guard  and  protect  them  all 
from  the  influence  of  this  wicked  world  and  make  them 
dear  to   Himself  and  to  His   saints! 

Do  not  study  too  hard,  because  I  want  my  little  M. 
to  be  very  strong  when  she  comes  to  California  to  take 
her  aunt's  place!  Your  parents  and  brothers  will  then 
come  to  see  their  darling  where  sunshine,  flowers,  birds, 
trees,  and  the  best  humored  weather  exist,  and  you  will 
be  seen  amid  trees  and  flowers  going  forward  to  meet 
them.  A  virginal  veil  will  be  on  your  head,  and  you  will 
be  the  sweetest  little  Ursuline  in  all  the  world.  Pray  for 
this,    my   darling,    and    for 

Your  loving  aunt, 

SISTER    M.    PAUL. 


Darling  little  M,: 

Your  postal  from  the  North  Pole  came  just  as  you  said 
it  would,  on  Xmas  Eve.  Did  you  break  the  record  of 
Peary  and   go   nearer   the   Pole? 

Your  father  tells  me  that  you  want  to  be  a  nun  and 
come  to  California  to  our  charming  convent.  God  bless 
you  darling,  and  may  you  realize  the  granting  of  this 
holy  wish!  Shall  I  tell  you  how  to  be  a  nun  even  now? 
Very  well,  listen  attentively,  and  put  into  practice  what- 
ever you  hear  of  good,  and  then  you  will  be  like  a  nun 
even  before  you  come  to  California.  Love  papa  and  mama 
so  much   that  you  will  never  disobey  them,  then  you  will 


174  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

be  obedient  like  a  real  nun.  Be  gentle  and  kind  to  your 
brothers;  being  older  than  they,  you  must  be  to  them  a 
visible  Guardian  Angel,  always  speaking  the  truth  and 
now  and  again  taking  them  to  St.  Mary's  and  kneeling 
with  them  very  close  to  the  altar  where  Jesus  awaits  you 
and  them.  He  will  bless  and  strengthen  you.  Again  you 
will  be  like  a  nun.  Be  polite  to  your  schoolmates  and 
choose  for  companions  only  those  whom  mama  and  papa 
approve.  Be  attentive  and  submissive  to  all  your  teachers, 
then  M.  will  be  like  a  nun.  There  are  duties  that  you  will 
find  easy  when  you  practice  them  often  and  this  practice 
will  prepare  you  for  being  a  real  nun  in  beautiful  Cal- 
ifornia. 

Ask  your  dear  Aunt  M.  and  Uncle  J.  to  bring  you 
often  to  St.  Mary's  because  you  want  to  ask  Jesus  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  for  many  graces  for  papa  and  mama 
and  all  your  relatives,  and  you  know  He  will  hear  all  your 
prayers  and  grant  your  requests,  provided  the  petitions  are 
for  the  good  of  those  for  whom  you  pray.  Sometimes 
pray   that   your  dear   little  brothers   will   become   priests. 

Again,  may  the  Divine  Infant  Jesus  and  His  Mother 
bless  you  all. 

Devotedly, 

S.    M.    P. 


Santa    Rosa,    Aug.    15,    1909. 
My  dear  E.: 

Just  a  few  lines  on  this  great  Feast  of  our  Immaculate 
Mother  to  tell  you  that  I  was  delighted  with  the  senti- 
ments of  your  last  sweet  letter.  Let  us  thank  God  that 
my  dear  E.  is  becoming  just  what  I  want  her  to  become. 
Continue  to  receive  Holy  Communion,  for  you  know  that 
Holy  Communion  is  called  "the  wine  that  bringeth  forth 
virgins." 

I  hope  that  after  the  "fret  and  fever"  of  a  few  years 
you  will  hear  from  the  Divine  Lips  of  our  dear  Lord, 
"Well    done,    thou    good    and    faithful    servant,    enter    thou 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  175 

into  the  joy  of  Thy  Lord."  Be  good,  be  a  hearer  of 
Mass,  be  cautious,  be  a  child  of  prayer,  and  all  things 
will  turn  out  for  your  good.  It  is  very  easy  to  be  in- 
fluenced by  the  "crowd";  but  when  sickness,  old  age,  or 
some  accident  befalls  one,  then  it  is  that  the  "crowd" 
proves  useless,  but  the  strength  that  one  has  acquired  in 
keeping  God's  law,  will   be   an   abiding  comfort. 

We  as  Catholics  have  noble,  defined  principles,  and  we 
must  live  up  to  them  no  matter  what  may  be  the  practice 
of  the  jostling  crowd.  "Time  is  short  and  Eternity  long." 
Enjoy  life  but  with  moderation.  "We  have  not  here  a 
lasting  city,  but  seek  we  one  that  is  to  come." 

I    will    often    pray    for    my   dear    E.    and    whenever    she 
visits   Santa   Rosa,  a  warm,   motherly   welcome   awaits   her 
From    her   most  affectionate, 

SR.    M.   PAUL. 


Ursuline  Academy,  Feb.  6,  1910. 
My  dear  E. : 

Your  sweet  and  welcome  letter  gave  me  much  pleasure. 
I  am  delighted  that  our  Ursuline  postal  gave  you  so  much 
consolation.  I  knew  that  it  would  recall  to  my  dear  E. 
many  pleasing  recollections.  When  do  you  think  we  will 
see  you  again  at  "Ursuline"? 

Wednesday  next  will  begin  the  holy  "Season  of  Lent." 
Do  not  fast  too  rigorously,  dear  E.  Let  your  confessor 
direct  your  fast. 

St.  John  Berchmans  was  asked  once  what  devotion  was 
most  pleasing  to  the  Mother  of  God:  he  answered,  any  de- 
votion no  matter  how  small,  provided  it  be  constant.  Con- 
stancy, dear  E.,  that  is  the  secret  of  success.  You  must 
determine  on  one  day  of  the  week,  or  even  two,  on  which 
you  will  go  to  Mass  and  be  faithful  to  the  determination. 
Then,  do  not  multiply  prayers,  but  be  more  devout  in  those 
that  you  daily  say.  By  doing  this,  you  will  not  fatigue  the 
mind  and  you  will  be  constant  with  intensity  modified,  but 
not  diminished. 


176  Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross 

I  wish  you  to  take  good  care  of  yourself  as  I  rejoice 
in  the  knowledge  that  you  are  becoming  the  whole-souled 
child  of  God,  which  at  one  time  I  feared  you  would  never 
be.  Remember,  E.  dear,  the  old  and  solid  admonition,  "Say 
much  to  God,  little  to  men."  And  do  not  argue  on  religion 
but  pray  much  especially  at  Mass  and  Holy  Communion. 
You  never  hear  an  intelligent  man  speaking  against  the 
principles  of  our  Holy  Faith.  It  is  only  the  base  who,  in 
order  to  excuse  their  own  folly,  scoflf  at  religion.  Be  care- 
ful, dear  E.,  not  to  relax.  For  what  is  this  short  life  with- 
out the  practice  of  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God? — Noth- 
ing. And,  "What  is  it  when  all  is  told?" — We  are  here  for 
a  few  short  years  and  while  passing  along  life's  way,  there 
comes  a  cross  for  me  and  a  cross  for  you,  but  God  in  the 
end  makes  all  things  right.  Work  then,  dear  E.,  for  that 
other  and  better  life  whither  we  are  all  hastening.  How 
quickly  is  one  forgotten!  The  old  adage  is  quite  true: 
"Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind,"  and  if  we  are  safe  with  God, 
it  matters  little. 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

SR.  M.  PAUL. 


Elmhurst,   June   8,    1912. 
My  dear  E. : 

How  are  you?  Well,  I  sincerely  hope  in  soul  and  body. 
Our  school  closed  last  week  and  soon  we  go  to  dear  Ursu- 
line,  Santa  Rosa,  for  our  annual  retreat.  This  year  has 
flown!  When  I  left  Santa  Rosa  last  August,  to  remain  in 
St.  Helena  one  year,  it  seemed  an  age  to  look  forward  to 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days.  But  how  they  flew. 
All  things  material  are  fleeting,  therefore,  why  should  we 
worry? 

Do  you  make  a  visit  to   the  King  of  Kings  daily? 

I  know  that  my  dear  child  meets  with  days  of  joy  and 
of  sorrow.  Such  is  life.  But  when  we  are  strengthened  to 
walk  the  journey  of  life  by  frequent  Communion,  all  things 
sad  become  sweetly  tuned  to  peaceful  endurance. 


Life  of  Sister  Mary  Paul  of  the  Cross  177 

As  I  have  said,  have  stated  times  for  going  to  Confes- 
sion and  Holy  Communion  and  keep  to  that  time,  if  pos- 
sible. Regular  and  frequent  Communion  will  work  won- 
ders in  the  life  of  my  dear  E.,  but  regular  Confession  must 
go  hand  in  hand  with  frequent  Communion  and  remember: 

"When  earth's  fair  flowers   are   shedding 
Their  fragrance  on  our  way, 
There  is  danger  in  the  sunshine 
If  we  should  cease  to  pray." 

So,  my  dear,  say  one  decade  at  least  of  your  Rosary 
every  day.  May  God's  blessing  always  be  with  you.  "The 
heart  of  man  is  changeable  and  it  can  never  rest  till  it  rest 
in  God."  How  true!  You  so  tire  of  all  the  glitter  that  this 
world  can  produce  and  you  reach  for  something  that  will 
live  beyond  the  grave.  Keep  reaching  and  you  will  surely 
grasp  it. 

With  fond  love,   I   am  always,  dear   E., 

Yours  most  affectionately,^ 

SISTER    M.    PAUL. 


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